Okay, everyone...

I have sort of a 2 in 1 thing going on here as you must have noticed from the title..What that means is I have two completely random questions in one post. The reason I didn't just do two separate posts is because I didn't feel it was necessary when you can just give me two answers in one. Here are my questions:

1) Do you think that the parents should get to choose what the kids call their grandparents? Why or why not? What do your kids call your parents? What did you call you grandparents? Why did you call them that?

2) Why do you like this forum? I figure that if I present these answers to Alan and Irene it might be a good thing to put on the home page, for newcomers to see why moms enjoy visiting the site.


Thanks!

Freshdrinkofwater

Very interesting questions here! Sorry, this will be a long entry, and I hope I cover all your questions.

1. Regarding the Names of Grandparents: Whose choice?

This is a current issue I am dealing with in my family. My oldest son is having his first child, in September. I want the child to call me "Oma", however, my son wants "His child" to call me what "He chooses". He said "Mom, this is about "My child" okay, so I will think about what you want, but "Mom please respect what Stacey and I will want, OK". Man, my sons and I are so direct with eachother, and we seldom have misunderstandings, because we say what we mean, and mean what we say. That is an attribute I strived very hard to establish in my children as they were growing up.
I will definitely honor what my son wants, as it is his turn to be the parent now. Often, regarding other questions he has, I say, Well, what do you think, I had a turn thinking that through once, now its your turn. I know you can figure that out, but, heh, you know I am here for you. And he says, Thanks mom, I know what to do now. Instantaneously. Peace. Respect. Honor. So simple really.
I still do not know the name of my awaiting granddaughter, nor what my title will be, other than "the Matriarch" to my sons. Ha. See, even my sons called me different names, the first called me "Mother" precisely alll the time, my second son, called me "Mommah" and my third one called me Momma-Jess when he was little, just because he always had a herd of friends at home. His buds called me "Grahams mom". Thank you Grahams Mom. I like this juice Grahams mom. Can I use your phone Grahams mom. In fact his buds still call me that. I do not know what each son will select to call me once I am a grandma, but it is definitely their choice. I just wait with anticipation of their individuality shining through, like always.

2. Why do I come to this forum?

I come here to share my thoughts, try to shine my light for others, helping woman in need, being emotionally supportive for families, or just taking an opportunity for me to communicate with others. There is such a need in society today, to converse with eachother, and some people do not have that in their close family, and are searching for someone to help them through this maze, called life. Very often, family might be too close to the person who needs answers, so they reach out, and I am honored that my opinion is considered and may help someone through the maze, even though just slightly. I enjoy being someone holding the hand of a needed one. I am having alot of fun as well, creating, mind stimulating, and keeping up my typing skills.
Love it here. I have a Bachelor of Education, with Psychology, Fine Arts, and Humanities Minors. So, I love this forum and I think I tap into all my mind skills, helping others. Plus being a parent myself, I can relate to issues projected here.
Thank you.

1. Well, my parents are "papaw" and "mamaw". I know, some may laugh, it's a southern thing, I guess. But our son did not name them. The first grandchild did 15 years ago. And there have been 4 other grandchildren since then before our son was born, so that's just who they are. And I wanted my husband's father to be "granddaddy" because I wanted him to be different than my dad, and because he certainly did not look like a "papaw" but the first grandchild on his side was born 2 months before our son, so my sister-in-law started calling him "papaw" too, and that's what he started calling himself. I was a little disappointed, but no big deal if that's what he wanted to be called. And his wife, my husband's stepmom, is "mamaw" also. My husband's mother is "meme" and his stepdad is "grandpa".

2. The reason I came on this site to start with was looking for baby names. But since I became a member it has been interesting hearing from different moms about different things and giving and asking for advice on different issues. I am also a stay home mom, and this gives me some other adult women to talk to! And the same reasons that genevra mentioned, too, just trying to help others when I can. This is the best baby site I have ever been to! Thanks so much, Alan and Irene!

I called both sets of Grandparents Grandma and Grandpa, and in referring to them, we just tacked on the last name.
When I married a southern man and had kids , we decided that my parents would be grandpa and Grandma and his would be Arky-ma and Arky-pa, since they were from Arkansas.(Looking back it was not smart) She kindly told me she thought that was terrible. So I asked what she would like to be caled since y daughter wasn't talking anyway and she said Ma-maw and Pa-paw. So, that is what we taught our kids. When one of our daughters became a young teenager she said she didn't like calling that grandma Ma=MAW and became calling her Grandma also, but tacked on her last name.their cousins caled the same granparents grandmother and Paw-paw.
Now, I am a grandmother. I always thought I would like to be called Grammie, shortened to Gram when they got older. so, I asked my 1st daughter when she had her baby and she said fine. Then a few months later my other daughter was pregnant and she said her Mother-in-law is already called grammie, so would I mind being called Nana. I really liked it and had never thought of Nana. I then went to the first daughter and asked if I could please be Nana to her kids too, since I found it easier to have all grandkids call me the same thing. she agreed. We have taught all 11 grandkids to call me Nana. I Adore being called that.
I have a friend that is called "Ama" , most men I know are Papa, I know a Pop-pop, me-maw, Paw-Paw, but the oddest by far was.....LADY FAIR!!! I am not joking.
I do believe the Grandparents have a right to say, please don't have them call me that,if they don't like it. After all you will be called that as long as you are a grandparent.

I came across this site by accident. I love it. I have always loved names. I used to sit and write names all the time. when I was a child I wanted to work in an orphanage just naming the babes. Then when I was older and they came out with cabbage patch dolls, I figured I would be good at naming the dolls!
Now, if I can help anyone, I am quite happy.

i call my grand parents
grandma minnie and grandpa frank
grandmop and grampa or garbage guzzler (guts)he its my left overs





i found this site on google mile:

When, exactly, do we lose the right to decide what we'd like other people to call us? A friend's grandmother insisted everyone call her by her first name, this didn't stop when the grandchildren came. My parents taught us to use honorifics: Grandma Eichenburger and Grandpa Eichenburger; adults we would meet were Mr. or Ms., unless the person to which we were showing respect asked us to call them by their first name. In the case of my great grandfather, one of the first great grandchildren pronounced "Grandpa" "BoPo" and somehow we all ended-up calling him that. I think he liked it. My mother would never allow us to call her or my father by their first name. I think we should call people what they want to be called. That shows as much (or more) respect than using some traditional title or protocol.

Why I come to this site: I find language, especially the origin of words, interesting. I'm learning a lot about the psychology that goes into naming babies. I've been a little surprised, based on posts and comments I've been reading, by how much more interested people are with how a name sounds than the meanings or origins. That is, until parents see they named their daughter a boy's name, or their son a girl's. They defend their decision like someone has accused them of a crime.