Bas mitzva card | Imamother

zaq

Mon, Sep 19 2016, 2:33 pm

Best wishes, Zenobia Zaqarias (Zelda's mom)

Most frum ladies would probably sign "Mrs. Zenobia Zaqarias" but this is incorrect form according to American rules of etiquette. "Mrs. Anything" means "Wife of Mr. Anything", so unless you're a same-gender couple you can't be "Mrs. Zenobia Anything", you have to be "Mrs. Zalman Anything" which is pretty ridiculous.

But since all the frum pubs list married women as "Mrs. Zenobia Zaqarias" anyway, I don't see why you shouldn't sign "Mrs. (yourfirstname) yourlastname." Or Ms. , or Dr. or Reverend or Professor (Yourfirstname) Yourlastname.

Your given name is not a state secret, and should really be included if only to distinguish you from other Mrs. Yourlastnames. I don't think you need to worry that the young lady is going to assume you are now on a first-name basis just because she has achieved the distinction of halachic adulthood. If she does, gently correct her misconception with a smiling "My friends call me Lieutenant-Colonel Zaqarias".