Dear Annie: My 40-year-old son-in-law has horrible manners. At dinner, if we have a buffet set up with six pieces of chicken, and there are six people eating, he will grab four pieces.

He’s always first in line and makes sure he gets the biggest and best of everything. He once shoved his entire dirty hand into a jar of pickles instead of using the fork. He typically will go back through the line at least four times and then sneak back for more when we all retire to the living room.

He always heads outside if there’s any work to be done.

This is so maddening. It’s gotten so bad that my husband and I don’t want him at our house anymore. This leads to issues since we host events for birthdays and holidays. Everyone watches him in disgusted fascination, and the elders don’t hold back their criticism among themselves.

How can we address this? — Fed Up and Grossed Out

Dear Fed Up and Grossed Out: The best way to address this is head on. His behavior has got to stop or he is simply not welcome at your house. I do worry a bit about his appetite. Is he getting enough at home, or perhaps your cooking is THAT GOOD? That would be one way to look at it, but regardless, sit him and your daughter down and tell them it must stop. No one likes to eat with a little piggy around.

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