DEAR MISS MANNERS: A few of my cousins have gotten married recently, and they requested that no children attend their weddings, aside from the ones performing the roles of ring bearer and flower girl.

This request would have been completely foreign when I was growing up. I have found the situation awkward, especially for family weddings, since my children are just as much members of the family as I am.

My husband and I have attended two such family weddings so far. During one reception, one of my aunts (with her adult daughters present at the table with us) innocently asked us if it was nice to be there without the kids. I responded honestly that I did not like it, and that it was weird that they were excluded.

Our oldest is old enough to be fully aware that he’s being excluded, and he

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