Dear Prudence,
A few years ago, my mother-in-law bought me a small painting of a fox for Christmas, because she knows I like foxes. The painting was not really my taste, but was very beautifully done. So out of politeness, that is what I said. “Thank you so much for the thoughtful gift, what a beautiful piece of art.” I put it in our guest room where she would see it when she visited.
In the years since, she has bought me cards, napkins, notebooks, and mugs from the same artist with some kind of fox artwork printed on them. How do I make it stop without copping to the fact that I never liked the first painting to begin with?
— Outfoxed