Her hubby corrects her, and she's miffed

DEAR AMY: I've been married for several years, and we have two teenagers. My husband is generally easy to get along with but has one behavior I can't seem to abide anymore. When we are with friends or family, he constantly corrects me when I'm speaking. It's usually over something minor (example: "It wasn't four days ago; it was five") and happens during light conversation, not over serious matters. When I'm interrupted more than once in midsentence, I sometimes stop and defend my statement, which is unpleasant for everyone present. I've asked him several times to stop this, but he just can't seem to control the urge. Oddly, when we are alone, he doesn't do this. Now my younger son has started modeling this behavior and interrupts often to adjust my comments. I have studied the pattern closely, and I'm not the problem. What on earth is going on, and how can I possibly make it stop? -- FlusteredDEAR FLUSTERED: Let's start with the younger generation and work backward. When your son does this, stop him, hold up your hand and say, "No. It is rude to interrupt and correct me over an unimportant detail. If it is important, wait until I've finished my thought, and then you can have your say. It's a bad habit that I don't want you to develop." You can probably influence your son to change.

Your husband may feel "onstage" when he is with other people and may be so eager to participate that he is stepping on your story.

Switch it up. Change the way you react to him. It is rude to have a mini-spat in front of other people, so the next time you're interrupted, stop, be quiet and wait with a neutral attitude for the next thing to happen before you continue.

In all likelihood, the

next thing to happen will be your husband sputtering to a stop and then saying,

"Anyway . . . go ahead, Honey."

Rinse. Repeat.