Asking Eric: Family members keep to themselves at gatherings

Dear Eric: I have four sons who are all married; some have children. The oldest son has two adult children, one of whom is engaged. When we have a family dinner or celebration and all are here, the oldest son’s wife and her daughter and her daughter’s fiancé always sit at the end of the table together. They talk amongst themselves and rarely join in with the rest of the conversations with everyone else.

After everyone has finished dinner and left the dining room, those three remain at the table talking sometimes and don’t come and join the rest of us. When they do leave the table, they usually come into the family room but sit on the sofa together and continue their conversations there or look on their phones.