I fear I’ve gatecrashed daughter’s plans after replying to group message

DEAR DEIDRE: I FEAR I’ve gatecrashed my daughter’s plans after I replied to her message asking about a family gathering.

She had posted it on our family WhatsApp group, but on reflection, I think it was for my other daughter, not me.

My husband and I hadn’t seen them in months, so I got excited thinking they wanted to get together as a family again, and I asked if they wanted us to come.

I’m 58, my husband is 62. Now we’re all meeting as a family, but my husband says I’ve bulldozed our way in and the message wasn’t for us.

I feel embarrassed that I may have messed with their arrangement.

But why message the group if we weren’t all invited?

DEIDRE SAYS: It’s possible she could have posted it on the wrong message thread, or could have been trying to keep you both in the loop.

Either way there is no harm in speaking openly. Explain you wouldn’t want to gatecrash and made an honest mistake when you read the message.

Gently suggest it’s best to message privately if they intend a smaller gathering.