Every week, Dear Prudence answers additional questions from readers, just for Slate Plus members. Submit questions here. (It’s anonymous!)

Dear Prudence,

My wife and I are new grandparents. The parents are in their late 30s with this baby probably being their first and only. The name of the baby is concerning and upsetting to me and my wife. To protect our children, I will describe the name, not provide the actual name selected.

The first name is a mixture of each parent’s maternal grandmother, which we do not care for, but have bigger concerns for the child on account of the middle and last name. The middle name is the name of the monster demigod, which was a character in a film released in 2021. The movie was part of a popular comedy, action-themed movie franchise, which began in 1984. The last name of the baby is a 10-letter combination of our daughter’s and son-in-law’s surnames, which, my guess, to them represents their union with the child. This combined name is difficult to pronounce, and spell whereas each parent’s name is short, and easily understood. Neither my daughter nor son-in-law are changing their given surnames, so this family unit will have three last names.

I totally understand that it is the right of the parents to name their child and as grandparents, we must both respect and stay out of their decision. Nonetheless, I do not understand how a parent can select as a middle name for their child a monster demigod because my son-in-law liked the movie. How does one explain to a child that his name was derived from a monster in a movie? Regarding the last name, if the new combined parents’ name was given to the child, it seems to me that the parents should change their last names as well. Most upsetting is that both the middle and last names will leave the child open to ridicule. We have not indicated our concerns to the parents as of yet.

—Worried About Our Grandchild

Dear Worried About Our Grandchild,

Out of curiosity, what do you think would happen if you were to raise your concerns to the parents? Are you imagining they would say, “You know what, you’re right” and start the paperwork to revise the birth certificate? You have to know that’s not going to happen. So you have to try to find some acceptance of the situation here.

A good way to do that might be to try to put the ridicule-worthy names in perspective. Yes, if you’re right, the kid might be teased. But most kids are teased for something, at some point. And their problems could be so much more serious. The baby has two loving parents and two loving grandparents. Your letter mentions no major financial struggles or illness. No looming divorce. No neglect, abuse, or even concerns about parenting styles. They’re doing just fine. Since you can’t go back and convince your daughter and son-in-law to change the name (and let me be very clear here: You cannot do that and shouldn’t try!), why don’t you redirect your energy to being the most supportive and loving possible loved ones to this child? Think of ways, starting now, that you can make them feel nurtured, supported, and unconditionally accepted so that if at some point a classmate says “You have the middle name of a monster demigod, you weirdo!” they’ll be confident and secure enough to bounce back.

Classic Prudie

About six months ago, there was a rash of vandalism and burglaries in our town. Most people blamed local teenagers who were doing virtual school but whose parents still worked. I am lucky enough to work from home, and on my lunch I went out for a run. There was a foreclosed house at the bottom of the hill, and I had the perfect view to watch a group of teenagers break in. I called the cops. All the kids were caught red-handed, including my 15-year-old nephew “Billy,” who I didn’t realize was there.