DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am a 45-year-old mother of three, and about five years ago, I decided to start coloring my hair to cover up the gray. My color of choice is blonde.

The three hours I spend at the hairdresser every six weeks is the only luxury I have in my life. When I come out, I feel relaxed, young and beautiful. I get plenty of compliments. However, there are people who will point out to me that "that's not your real color." Usually, I laugh and say it's part of my midlife crisis, but I don't think I need to justify why I chose to go blonde, nor should these people be able to go away thinking that they were right in insulting a person.

Do you have any suggestions for polite, yet assertive responses that would gently yet firmly put these people in their place? I would never dream of commenting on a person's hair or clothing unless it was a compliment.

GENTLE READER: Would it be of any comfort to know that these busybodies are every bit as active advising those of us who do not color our hair to do so?

No, and it shouldn't be. Having other people pick over one's hair is revolting.

Miss Manners does not advise you to taunt a person who has just been proven to be rude. Your answer should be a soft, "Why, that's very kind of you to point that out."

The phrasing prompts the other person to say an automatic "thank you" that is choked off with the realization that gratitude is neither meant nor deserved.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am a school administrator in the small community in which I live. The job is wonderful because it affords me the opportunity to work in a community that I know well and love.

However, it carries with it a serious loss of personal space. Over the past few years, more and more parents have begun approaching me in the grocery store, at my daughter's soccer games, while walking the dog, or when out for a quiet dinner with my husband, with questions about the district, their children's schools, teachers, grades, coaches -- you name it.

Many of their questions involve privileged information or have nothing to do with the work that I do. I was almost physically accosted one Sunday morning, in my sweats at the deli counter, by an irate parent who was unhappy about something that had occurred at her child's basketball game!

How do I reply to these comments and questions?

GENTLE READER: The best answer is "Hmmmm." It seems thoughtful and gives away nothing.

After a pause, you say to complainers, "Please write this up in some detail, so I can study it at a more appropriate time," and to questioners, "Please call and make an appointment to see me in my office."

Miss Manners trusts that as a school administrator, you know where she is going with this. No one wants to do extra homework or report to the office. But even if they do, you will have finished your walk and your dinner.

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DEAR MISS MANNERS: Lately, many friends and family have told us they are having a baby, and my husband and I are quite pleased for them. However, my husband and I disagree as to the proper phrasing when a couple shares the good news.

When a married male friend said "Nancy's pregnant" instead of "We're pregnant," my husband thought this was incorrect, as they are both just as responsible for the pregnancy as the woman carrying the child. I see his point, but biologically speaking, Nancy's husband cannot be pregnant, so "We're pregnant" doesn't sit well with me.

I suggested a more inclusive phrase, "We're having a baby." But that, too, could be biologically incorrect due to the possibility of miscarriage. I have finally settled on "We're expecting." What is the proper and correct way to share such good news?

GENTLE READER: It has not escaped Miss Manners' notice that the physical act of producing a child does not continue to be shared equally between the parents in that interlude between conception and birth. But although she finds the modern way of saying "We are pregnant" to be odd, and perhaps a bit cloying, she sympathizes with the attempt to share on the part of responsible gentlemen.

"Expecting" is indeed the conventional verb that may be applied to the couple, as well as to the one doing the carrying. But people who hear any such announcements should be too busy expressing their delight and congratulations to quibble.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: The day after Thanksgiving, my aunt e-mailed my whole family her children's Christmas list, notating from which stores the children will accept gift cards and including all their gift wishes, overpriced, tech gadget "must haves" as well as the traditional video games and devices.

Is it wrong of me to be offended? Her children are almost 15 years old, and I thought them too old to be demanding gifts or making lists at all.

GENTLE READER: But they have had nearly 15 years of training in this method of demanding that others give them what they want, and it seems to have worked so far. Why would they quit?

Children's wish lists cease to be cute when they no longer believe that they are confiding in Santa Claus. Miss Manners is not even sure about then.

It seems to her that receiving presents should be the opportunity for them to be taught to show gratitude, not to systematize natural greed. While it is always nice to get the "I've always wanted this" response, it can hardly be followed by an admiring "How did you know?" if the child had ordered the item from you. And by this system, the adults have no chance to expand the child's horizons by interesting him or her in something new.

Perhaps it is time for you to change tactics in your presumed goal of showing affection for your young cousins. Instead of fulfilling their shopping demands, you might plan some sort of visit with each individually, so that you will get to know them all better. If they are responsive, you will be able in the future to select presents for them yourself, based on your understanding of their present and possible future interests.

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DEAR MISS MANNERS: My apartment is part of a large complex in a busy metropolitan area. Signs posted near the exterior doors indicate that each person entering should use his or her own key to ensure that nonresidents do not enter.

It seems unbearably rude, however, to let the door slam shut behind me when another person is following just after me or (somehow worse, because I might seem to simply be saving time) a few seconds away. An apology or apologetic look seems insufficient for "Can't hold the door, you might be a criminal." Yet I imagine that following a polite person is precisely how an unauthorized mischief-maker might enter the building. I worry about this every day on my way home. Miss Manners, what should I do?

GENTLE READER: Work on your apologetic look. You should apear to be horribly torn between your duty to obey the rules of the building and your duty to obey the normal courtesy of holding a door for someone behind you.

Miss Manners realizes that you actually are torn, or you wouldn't have written. But one must dramatize.

Turn around to face the other person, rather than walking away in front of the closing door. Draw your eyebrows together, open your mouth slightly, and hold out your hands helplessly. Then shake your head sadly.

Should the person produce a key and enter, you will be able to say, "Terribly sorry, I was just following the house rules." If no key is produced, you may consider that it is not rude to turn away an intruder.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My son just got engaged to a wonderful girl that we just love. This will be his second marriage, his fiancee's first. Can you please tell me what is the proper etiquette regarding inviting guests that attended his first wedding?

My husband and I think it is up to the invited to decide whether or not they want to attend another wedding. The bride's mother thinks it is improper to invite people that have already attended his wedding.

What do you think? We want to do what is best for our son and future daughter-in-law without offending anyone, especially the bride's mother. What is the proper thing to do?

GENTLE READER: Is there someone in particular that the bride's mother does not want to see there? Such as the previous bride?

Otherwise, the custom is to invite those who are still your relatives and friends and to let them decide whether they have had enough.

Miss Manners does acknowledge, however, that anyone in the habit of marrying often would be kind to prevent wedding fatigue by having succeedingly smaller weddings.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Is it appropriate for a company who has given out bonuses every year for at ?least seven years to notify the staff if they do not plan on doing that for this ?year?

I want to know to be prepared but am afraid that I will appear rude. ?Please let me know what you think. Thank you.

GENTLE READER: What you want to avoid is a "no more gravy train for you folks" tone. But yes, if the employees seem to be counting on their regular bonuses, it is well to warn them.

Miss Manners advises putting it in the form of an apologetic appreciation: "As you all know, we've had a tough year here in spite of your good work. I am sorry to say that bonuses will be impossible, although you certainly deserve them. With your help, I'm sure we'll pull through and have a better year next year."

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