Their family tradition is to only get gifts for the young children. Why then does a big package arrive every year?

When the larger group gets together, they let everyone know about the event via group text, which they have declined to include me in.

Within a large group of friends, there are many sub-relationships. Some people are going to connect more with others; some members of the group might feel the same awkwardness you do. If you were already part of the larger group, you’d already have some of these sub-relationships going. But there’s no time limit. You can start cultivating them now.

Dear Eric: I love to send holiday cards. On my list so many brides opted to not take their husband’s last name. It was no problem to address Mr. John Smith & Ms. Jane Doe. Now kids have come along. Am I able to use Smith Family even if the wife/mom does not use that surname?

Dear Eric: About 14 years ago our son was seriously dating a woman whom both my wife and I really adored. We both thought she would be a great wife and daughter-in-law. She became the daughter we always wanted to have.

In today's Asking Eric column, R. Eric Thomas responds to someone who wants to re-connect with old friends but is having a tough time doing so.

DEAR ERIC: I love to send holiday cards. On my list so many brides opted to not take their husband’s last name. It was no problem to address Mr. John Smith & Ms. Jane Doe. Now kids have come along. Am I able to use Smith Family even if the wife/mom does not use that surname?

When the larger group gets together, they let everyone know about the event through a text chain, which they have declined to include me in. I do get invited to quarterly birthday parties (there’s a separate text chain for that),

In today's Asking Eric column, R. Eric Thomas responds to someone who still relives painful memories from past bullies despite their successful career.