I don’t agree with her choice of name!

Illustration/Uday Mohite

My wife and I have been arguing a lot about what to name our son. She wants to name him after her grandfather, but the name is so old-fashioned that I believe it will not be good for him when he grows up. She thinks I am being unreasonable and I am overthinking this, but I am only trying to be rational. She makes a lot of emotional decisions that aren't good for us, and I usually let it go, but this involves a child and I don't think I should back down. How do we resolve this without it leading to a bigger argument that we can't resolve?
There is no big or small argument when it comes to navigating a difference of opinion, because your wife may not think of it as a minor issue at all. You're right about prioritising your son's future, but your wife also has a say given that parenting is always a joint effort. It may help you both to write down why you feel this way and present these arguments to neutral parties such as family members or friends. Take time to live with the names you both propose, get other opinions, and revisit the issue after you have both taken some time to focus on other things. Sometimes, distance can lead to clarity or a change of perspective. If it doesn't, and you are both adamant, try and come up with another way of settling this while keeping in mind that your child is the priority. Happy parents make for good parents, and that should be the focus no matter what. If you look at the big picture, that may help you both find a way to be a little more accommodating and arrive at a compromise that works. Once that happens, make your peace with whatever the decision is and move on, because that will be in everyone's interests as a family. This may sound like a tricky issue but remind yourselves that it doesn't have to be.

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