There are certain things that seem to be a matter of etiquette and we do our best to try to follow them whenever possible. If we do happen to step outside of the lines, we acknowledge our error and do our best to correct the problem.

That is the way that it should go but it isn’t the way that it always goes. At times, there may even be an instance when somebody goes so far out of the lines of etiquette that they draw some undue attention to themselves.

That was the case in the following story when a brother-in-law left the bathroom in a horrible mess. His sister-in-law decided to embarrass him publicly, but did she go too far?

My family is over at my house for a get together since we all went out separate ways for thanksgiving.

My sister’s husband is a pig. He is overweight and perhaps cannot see his equipment and the toilet so when he stands to urinate it goes everywhere. Not great. But it would be better if he at least cleaned up after himself. Instead he leaves urine all over the seat, tank, and floor. At his house my sister probably cleans up after him. I don’t know and I don’t want to know.

I was having a similar problem with my son until I had his father teach him how to stand to pee. And to clean up afterwards. My son still sits most of the time though. And if he does sprinkle a little he cleans up.

I went to use the washroom after my brother-in-law came out and it was disgusting. I’ve talked to him and my sister about it before and nothing has changed.

Fine, new plan. I matched out of the bathroom and I told my son in a loud voice that he had to go clean his pee up since he sprayed everywhere and we have guests over. Exactly like I expected my son spoke up and said he hadn’t used the bathroom and that it was his uncle who just came out.

Everyone went quiet, my brother-in-law went red, and my sister went into the bathroom to clean. I apologized to my son for the mistake.

Afterwards my sister said I was an a**hole to embarrass her husband like that. I said that if an adult cannot piss properly or clean up after themselves perhaps they should be embarrassed.

Now we are fighting and she says I owe them an apology.

Two questions

Do I owe them an apology and am I the a**hole?