A reader of the Care and Feeding column at Slate shared their growing frustration with a 4-year-old child named Lori during shared playdates with friends. The reader, who has a 6-year-old son, described Lori as "precocious," "very chatty," and "very up in everyone's business." Lori is the daughter of a friend named Beth, who has two young children. The reader noted that Lori frequently tattles on the other children and that every request for a juice box or demand for a different toy grates on them. While the reader's son does not seem bothered by Lori, the reader expressed a strong dislike for the child and questioned whether Beth might sense this dislike. The reader considered confessing to Beth or making up a reason for the discomfort, such as comparing Lori to their own sister, though they admitted their sister is less annoying. The column's response advised against confessing to Beth, suggesting that the reader's dislike is unfounded and that it would be unwise to burden Beth with such feelings. The writer emphasized that the reader should focus on their grown-up friends during playdates and try to care less about a 4-year-old's behavior. The advice aimed to help the reader manage their emotions and maintain positive relationships with their friends, even if they found the child's behavior challenging. In a separate letter, another reader, a new mother of 1-year-old twins named Bella and Iris, wrote about naming choices for her children. The reader explained that she and her husband chose names they liked rather than traditional family names, which were typically more traditional, such as "Dorothy" and "Ethel." The reader's mother-in-law supported the choice, but the reader's mother has been giving her grief over the naming decision. The letter highlights the emotional weight that naming choices can carry in families, especially when personal preferences clash with family expectations. The reader's experience reflects a common challenge faced by parents when balancing personal preferences with family traditions. While the choice of names is deeply personal, it can also become a point of contention within extended family, especially when there is a strong cultural or familial emphasis on traditional names. The reader's situation underscores the importance of communication and understanding in navigating such family dynamics.