Modern Manners Advice for Your Social Quandaries

My husband's niece is getting married in eight months. The save-the-date only had my husband's name, my name, and my husband's two kids' names (my stepkids).

- HODA KOTB & JENNA BUSH HAGER

MARY ASKS...

Not my two children. All our kids are 16 to 24, so age isn't an issue. We're all fairly close, and there are no rifts in the family. The actual wedding invitation might include their names, but I doubt it. What should I do?

JENNA BUSH HAGER: You could just say you're planning travel for that weekend and ask if your kids will be invited. But you have to be prepared to learn it wasn't a mistake. If that's the case, it probably isn't personal; it might be about numbers.

HODA KOTB: I was thinking that. It's a terrible feeling when you're writing your list of people you want to invite to your wedding and you're 10 people too heavy. 
So it may have been a really difficult decision for the niece.

JBH: I would ask, but try not to take it personally.

HK: Yeah, I think you have to find out. You have the right to ask, but you have to be ready for the no. 
If your kids feel bad, you can bow out. That's your choice. They can invite who they want, and you can decide not to attend.

MARIA ASKS...

I work at a retail store, and one of the managers has wild mood swings. She's either happy and friendly or ice-cold and mean.