DEAR MISS MANNERS: At the funeral of a good friend last week, a baby at the back of the church fussed and fretted nearly the entire time. She didn't exactly howl, but she was very noisy.
It was difficult to appreciate the service and the memorials because I was so irritated. Even during a regular church service, this would have been distracting, but I feel that a funeral is no place for a baby.
Who, if anyone, should have suggested that the parent remove the child? I didn't feel it was my place.
GENTLE READER: A funeral is no place for crying? Perhaps the baby was expressing her grief. Would you have requested the same from a similarly distraught adult?
If you promise not to betray your irritation, Miss Manners will allow that you or a member of the congregation could have asked if the parent wouldn't mind stepping out to attend to the baby's needs in private. But if this was refused on the grounds that they were entitled to their sorrow, then you must accept it.
(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)