First non-critical post: Baby Shower at Work

This week at work we had a joint baby shower/bridal shower, as a coworker of mine is getting married in February. It was great. We got a lot of useful stuff, and my coworkers were very thoughtful and generous. People universally respected my lack of preference for pink things. The cake and punch were delicious. I felt the need to take a photo with this gift and its maker, Dianne.

One way to say: "Your baby's name is stupid"

When I asked another expectant mother what her baby boy's name was going to be, she replied with one of those new agey, hippie names. Rather than say I liked it, I said "Ahhh, is that a family name?" I thought I was being clever, but apparently this is a known polite way respond to a bad name.

We have our own new agey, hippie name picked out. Twice today alone, I have heard "Ahhh, is that a family name?"

Other responses that convey the same thought:

"My friends have a dog named that" and "My 15 year old son has a (guy) friend named that"

Of course I've also heard a good number of positive comments, so maybe she won't be eating lunch alone throughout junior high. For that reason, at least.