DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: My husband and I have always had nicknames for each other, going back to when we were first dating. They’re something we usually only use when it’s just the two of us.

My older sister has been seeing a guy, who she seems serious about. I have no issues with him, except that he introduced my sister to the world of public nickname using. They never call each other by their real names, but instead use what I consider way too personal nicknames all the time. You could choke on the cutesy factor.

I’m really glad my sister has found a nice man, but I also really don’t want to have to listen to them using their nicknames constantly. Is this worth a mention to my sister, or should I just suck it up and ignore it? --- HATE THE CUTESY FACTOR

DEAR HATE THE CUTESY FACTOR: If it seems like it’s just you who’s suffering from cutesy overload, it might be best to keep it to yourself.

If, however, you’ve noticed others reacting to the practice as unfavorably as you do, it could possibly save your sister and her boyfriend some embarrassment down the road to hear about the problem from someone she loves and hopefully trusts is acting in her best interest. I’d approach the subject with just your sister, privately and gently. The lovebirds may be oblivious of how much their use of nicknames is annoying those around them.

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: I’ve known for a long time that my wife had at least one serious relationship before ours, but at our rehearsal dinner, her dad mentioned something about her previous fiancé. This was big news to me that she had been engaged before, but given everything going on at the time, I had to put it to the back of my mind.

After we were done with all the wedding stuff, I had time to try and figure out why this little detail was never shared with me. I don’t care that my wife was engaged before. I do mind that she never felt the need to tell me.

So far, I haven’t said anything to her. But now the more I think about it, the more I think I have to clear the air. Do you agree? --- THE SECOND FIANCÉ

DEAR THE SECOND FIANCÉ: It’s obvious this is becoming an important issue to you, and one you need to deal with so you can move forward in your marriage. My advice is that if you decide to broach the subject, think long and hard about how you do it. Communication is key to any lasting marriage, but so is respecting your partner’s feelings and privacy.

While I can see why you’re upset, your wife’s life before you were in it is her business. Have you shared with her every aspect of your past before you and she were a couple? Besides, she may have good reasons for not wanting to revisit the details of her earlier engagement.

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: Our daughter had her pick of five schools. Of course, she’s opting to go to the one with the biggest reputation as a party school. We have told her we think this isn’t her best choice, but she comes back with how good the program is she’s going to be in, and that it isn’t as far from home as the other potential choices were.

She worked hard all through high school, and especially hard during these last couple of crazy years. She has always been a serious student and mostly a homebody by choice. We’re concerned she will hate being somewhere where she’ll be the oddball because she isn’t a partier. Our other fear is that she’ll change and become one of those kids who are at the school for the social, not the academic life.

What do we do to prepare our daughter for what she’s walking into in a couple of months? --- PARENTS OF A SERIOUS STUDENT

DEAR PARENTS OF A SERIOUS STUDENT: This is going to be a learning experience for you all. Your daughter will find her own path, even though it may not be the ideal one to a parent’s way of thinking.

Many kids go to “party schools” and succeed academically. They’re the kids who usually find like-minded friends, who make their own social life. And yes, there are the kids who go a little nuts with their first taste of freedom. That doesn’t mean they’re on the road to self-destruction. It’s just a part of growing up. I’ve known plenty of folks from both my own and more recent generations who’ve naturally soured on the wilder life without suffering any permanent damage.