Asking Eric: Our son and his wife exclude us from ‘family’ events. We feel shut out

The Asking Eric column addresses two distinct family crises. One set of parents reports being excluded from family events and experiencing inequality in gift giving by their son and daughter-in-law. In another instance, R. Eric Thomas responds to parents who intend to divert their daughter's wedding savings to fund their own vow renewal ceremony. Both scenarios highlight significant interpersonal tensions and ethical dilemmas regarding family boundaries and the management of shared financial resources.