DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband and I are expecting our first baby in a month. We have named her Natalie, but my best friend has been referring to her as Nat Nat, which I hate! It makes me cringe every time she does it!
How do I ask her not to call my baby that without sounding too mean? My husband says to leave it alone and not be one of "those" moms, but I seriously can't handle the nickname while Natalie is just a little baby!
GENTLE READER: This is the first of many things that you think you won't be able to handle while your child is just a baby, but Miss Manners assures you that you will.
Correcting the behavior of well-meaning friends and family will be among the hardest to resist right now, but you must -- especially if you want help from them during the first few difficult and sleep-deprived months.
Miss Manners is afraid that you must come to terms with the idea that your child will be nicknamed whether you like it or not. Revenge will be yours, however, when your daughter becomes old enough to come up with nicknames for everyone herself.