DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband and I are in the process of adopting my sweet 2-year-old nephew. He has lived with us since he was 7 weeks old, due to my sister and brother-in-law’s inability to care for him.

He is the sweetest, happiest child you could ever want to know, and has bright red hair. This garners him a ton of attention when we are out in public. We get several comments and questions, mostly about his hair, every time we leave the house.

The most common question is something along the lines of, “Where did he get that hair?” My husband and I don’t have a great response.

I can technically say that his hair color runs in the family, but I don’t really want to get into the adoption story with a random stranger. We will of course tell him that he is adopted, but not until it’s age-appropriate. Now is not the time to tell him his aunt is really his birth mom.

Do you have any suggestions for how we can respond to this intrusive question quickly and easily?

GENTLE READER: Many redheads do not have a redheaded parent, so answering that it “runs in the family” should hardly raise an eyebrow.

However, as genetics is not always so accommodating, Miss Manners will remind everyone to think twice before asking such silly questions.

Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, [email protected]; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.