1. You help her with the “hassles” involved, such as filling out paperwork etc.;
2. She has a discussion with her son to assess his feelings about her changing her last name, and he is OK with it.
3. You make a trade……What can you do for her to make it worth her effort to change her name?
In the end, it is her choice. If she chooses to keep her current name, let it go…..Focus on the life you have together, not the name.
Caroline Schacht has a master’s degree in home economics and another in sociology. She has been trained as a divorce mediator and a teacher at East Carolina University, specializing in courtship and marriage classes. She is the co-author of several textbooks, including "Choices in Relationships and Understanding Social Problems." She can be reached a cschacht@suddenlink.net.