Family boundaries and celebrations: Why exclusion from a dinner plan led to a difficult decision regarding a birthday event

of previous family trips to Italy from which I’d been absent. When I attempted to join the conversation about the week’s planned activities, Melissa interrupted me.

“Oh, Anna, we’ve actually decided to do some family shopping tomorrow instead of the Vatican tour.”

“Family shopping?” I asked, confused.

“You know,” Eleanor interjected smoothly, swirling continue reading …