DEAR MISS MANNERS: A mom takes lots of pictures of her daughters. The baby is almost 1 year old; the other is 5. She posts the photos on social media with captions such as "Baby versus girl." The baby's thighs are often mentioned with the nickname "Pork Chops." The mom often refers to the differences in her girls' body sizes.
The photos that sent me over the edge were two pictures of the mom measuring the girls' thighs, showing the baby's thigh was as large as the girl's. I wrote the mom a private message saying I wished she wouldn't do that, and the mom blew up.
So many females have negative body images, and I was afraid the mom was sending the wrong message to her daughters. Now what do I do?
GENTLE READER: Abusive actions call for sterner interventions than those available to etiquette. But failing such extreme situations, Miss Manners notes that it is just as difficult to discipline other people's parents as it is to discipline other people's children. Part-time parenting from third parties is usually as futile as it is unwelcome. You owe her an apology -- not for your view, but for interfering.