I hate feeling condescended to. HATE HATE HATE.

I don't know how to get people to stop calling me 'Kathy' and patting me o the head, both literally and metaphorically. I'm a grown g*****n woman.

And guess what? I'm a grown woman, and if I go off somewhere and you can't reach me, that is not a reason for you to stop by my house, "oh I was worried about you Cathy".

I gave up on correcting people who automatically shorten Susan to Sue. Usually if I introduce myself and refer to myself as Susan often enough, they catch on. And when they don't, they're probably not going to be in my circle of friends for very long.

And I know it's annoying when people feel the need to check up on you, but isn't it nice to have someone in your life who cares?

Repetition is a good way to start with getting people to address you by your given name. If that doesn't work, ignore them until they address you properly and smile and tell them that you didn't think they were talking to you since they didn't call you by your name!

I hate condescention too!

Sorry to hear this. I'm not sure if it's the condescending tone, the nickname, or both, but my friend Kathleen is VERY clear to people about her name. She is Kate to close family but to everyone else she is Kathleen and is very very clear about it.