to expect my SIL to respond to an email inviting her for lunch on Sunday?

[harpsichordcarrier]

OK, quick background is that my SIL is recently married and on Sundays she and her dh lok after her two step children. I arranged one event to get the whole family together at Easter so my children could get to know these two children. Anyway having discussed it with MIL last week I sent SIL an email first thing on Monday inviting them all for lunch this Sunday - and I haven't had a reply. I would really like to know if they're coming as I have also invited the ILs and also need to go shopping, arrange other hings for Sunday. I feel awkward about phoning or emailing or texting now as I worry it will seem like I am hassling her.
I am pretty stressed about the whole thing anyway tbh as SIL is a bit picky about her food and I don't really know her dh or the children at all so I am fretting about what to cook.

Just call her, pehaps she has'nt been online, or the email did'nt get through.

Maybe she doesn't check her E-mail regularly? I would send a text just asking if she had received the E-mail and if she could let you know if they can make it as you need to go and get the shopping.

Just ring her.

It's not unreasonable to send her a text today or tomorrow asking if she can make it (has she got your message etc) since you'll need to go shopping/plan menus etc. Is your SIL the sort of person who reads their email everyday? It may be sitting there unread and she having no idea about this proposed lunch.

no, I sent it to her work and she definitely picked it up as I have read receipt.
Ok will send a text....

x-posts

Just call.

It may be that she is waiting to hear whether or not her step children will be with her? These arrangements can be subject to change in the holidays.

Perhaps give her a ring? It's a lovely thing to do, so hope it doesn't get stressful. I have a whole bunch of in-laws who all work on the lastminute.com principle, so I do sympathise!

Oh but Jeremy she is going to get in such a strop about it
last time she came for Christmas lunch she called to say "remember I don't like [dessert I had planned] but don't worry you can just make me an individual apple crumble"

oh yes true she may be waiting to hear whether the children will be with her.
this is a constant tension tbh - dh doesn't like to plan ahead either and it has taken me years to train him to realise that if you don't make plans other people still have to ...

Sisters get special privledges in my book (don't tell my sis that though or she'll really take the biscuit!).

Just call her, if she wants something bonkers can't you tell her to bring it?

yes you're right, I need to try and be a bot less anxious and go with the flow.
no problem there then