Miss Manners: My newborn is cute. Was my first baby ugly?

DEAR MISS MANNERS: When I visited my family with my newborn son, they could not stop talking about how handsome he was -- and how much cuter he was compared to his sister (my first child, who is 3 years old). On that afternoon alone, I must have heard the words, “He looks much better than his sister” at least 15 times from my mom and my sisters. I was hurt and shocked they would say such negative things about a child, but I was just grateful my daughter was not with me.

However, I doubt her presence would have stopped them. Miss Manners, how was I supposed to respond to their negative comments? How do I prevent it from happening again, especially when my daughter is with me? GENTLE READER: Grasp your new infant warmly, look deep into his eyes, and, with an appropriately silly expression, say, “They don’t mean it! Your sister was a beautiful baby, too! Yes she was! Yes she was!” After 15 repetitions on both sides, everyone will be exhausted and ready for some adult conversation. (Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.



missmanners.com ; to her email, [email protected] ; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St.

, Kansas City, MO 64106.).