By Barbara Falconer Newhall
Help! My son Peter and his wife are about to transform Jon and me into grandparents.
What shall I call myself? Something tried and true like Grandma, Grannie, Nana, or Grandmother Newhall? Or should I revive one of my childhood nicknames — Bobbie or Fanny? Or just call myself B, which is how I sign my emails these days?
And — how do I work around the preferences of the other grandmothers(s), present and future, in the family?
Email me your stories and suggestions or put them in the comment box, and I’ll write up a post next week — unless, of course, grandbaby Newhall gets born between now and then, in which case all bets are off.
Hi Barb!
Beautiful pictures! I love Grandma Falconer’s hair with the waves. Brother Bobby gave our grandmother the name Toto because he could not say Grandma. Most people called her Toto, but some her own age called her Gige–not sure how to spell that. Also Flossy or Florence, of course.
I thought it was Bobby’s version of Flo-Flo. Hmmm. I never heard the Gige name. And Flossy!
I have a friend who chose Fleur — forget all that ‘grandma’ stuff! And her grandchildren call their grandfather ‘Big Poppy’. My oldest nephew’s son dubbed his grandfather ‘ba ba’ so that’s what he is to everyone now.
Hi Barbara, You look so much like your grandmother Toto!!
We’ve also just gone through the ‘process’ of choosing grandparent names! Unreal! Our little granddaughter just turned 4 months old.
Congratulations to your whole family. A new adventure begins!
One of the wisest things my daughter-in-law ever did (and she’s done a lot) was to ask me what I wanted to be called when I became a grandmother. I thought and thought and decided on Nonni. This was well in advance of any babies appearing. Because I claimed that name, the other sets of grandparents (there’s two) are both plain ole grandma and grandpa. Nothing wrong with that, to be sure! But I like having a special and specific name. So I do recommend you come up with something that you like. And congratulations–being a grandparent is amazing!
Hello Barbara,
My 3 sons have produced 5.4 grandchildren in the past 7 years (!) How did this happen?
My first grandson came up with my name all by himself (Ahma). So that’s what it is.
You continue to inspire me.
Patricia
Thanks, everybody. I’m inspired. BFN