How do you nicely convey "MYOB"?

[Anonymous]

Eventually, if all the redirect/subtle stuff doesn't work, I'd just say, "Because that's such a personal question, I don't feel comfortable discussing it". Repeat as necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I had responded earlier, but I'll also say the recent PPs are on to something - the grandparents probably want to be fair if they're subsidizing the others. My dad noticed that I was the only child who he hadn't bought a car for, and before I had even noticed that myself, he offered, somewhat insistently, to pay off our car loan for the one we had just purchased. He previously had asked a lot of questions about the car, the loan, and our insurance, and I had been vague about the details until I realized what he was trying to get at.

I see on both sides of my family resentment over what is perceived to be unfair assistance to adult siblings. Whether it was truly unfair or not isn't so important as the fact that the perception of it soured relationships between the siblings. My parents are trying to avoid instigating that dynamic among us.

+1

The parents should want a harmonious relationship between the siblings left behind, when the parents die, most of all. This includes being equal, regardless of what favoritism (admitted or not) exists.

[Anonymous]

My mom is like this. I sometimes say "this is a Smith family issue/discussion, not a Jones family issue." She usually gets it for the moment, but she's back to her ways soon thereafter.

[Anonymous]

http://www.skillsyouneed.com/ps/assertiveness-techniques.html

Read up on fogging technique in communication.