DEAR ABBY: I am 22 years old and have been with my boyfriend, "Carl," 3 1/2 years. We have lived together for three of them. Carl is 25, and this is the first, and hopefully, last, serious relationship for both of us. We have bigger issues than the one I present to you now, but this is the only one that has me mystified: Carl never calls me by name!
We both called each other "Baby" and "Sweetie" in the beginning, but as soon as I noticed it, I changed my ways. Carl said he always preferred calling me by my middle name (a family custom), which seemed sweet and was fine by me.
Abby, all that has changed is what Carl calls me when speaking in the third person. Anyone observing our interactions would -- and rightly so -- assume my name is "Babe"! Why is he doing this? What can I do? I'd truly appreciate your help. -- MIFFED IN MIAMI
DEAR MIFFED: Calling you "Babe" may be a lazy speech habit, may be his "special" pet name for you (although I'm not putting money on it), or he may have trouble remembering names -- including yours. Because being called "Babe" upsets you, tell Carl once more that you prefer being addressed by your given name. And if he has another memory lapse after that, "re-train" him by reminding him what you prefer to be called each and every time he slips up.