Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Baby talk
Dear Pud,
How do I get my boyfriend to quit using baby talk and baby nicknames? He refers to himself as "snuggly bear," though I never reciprocate.
When he tells me "I love you" in a baby voice, it makes me feel like a pedophile. I've told him this but he still doesn't stop --and it's getting worse!
I hate that I cringe when he's trying to display affection, but c'mon! What should I do?
Thanks,
Emily
Kentucky, USA
Dear Emily,
When was the last time you felt totally safe and protected?
For your boyfriend, it's when he was a baby. We're all taken care of as babies. At around 5, we start having to solve our own problems. We realize that we have to fend for ourselves sometimes, even if it just means getting our own toys out of the toy box.
And that was the last time your boyfriend felt totally safe and protected. Until you came along.
When adults feel safe and protected, and can let down all guard, it's common for us to regress into the last point in our lives when we felt that way. You've clearly felt that way with another guy, probably not too long ago. You regress back a few years or so.
But your boyfriend goes way back to babyhood -- it's the last time he felt this way.
What you two have got, that's new for him. Sure it's annoying for you, but you are really special to him.
As for what to do, cherish it. To get him to stop instantly, just bring up a serious topic or something in the news.
Pud
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