While Chris' Mom was visiting about a month or so ago, I found something to be interesting and I had to laugh about it: the different pet names people have for their Moms, Dads, Grandmas and Grandpas (as well as other family members too). I have realized over the years that I grew up in a very boring family as far as pet names go. I was taught at a young age that the words to use are "Mom", "Dad", "Grandma" and (if my Grandpas would've lived long enough to meet me), "Grandpa."
I have met people (especially since I moved down south) that call their family members the strangest names! Some examples are: Nana, Papa, Pappy, MeeMa, Mimi, Poppa, Grammy and the list goes on and on. Where do they get all these names?? I have a theory or two - read on....Anyway, I had to laugh while Chris' Mom was in town because TJ calls her "Nana" and when I asked him "What did your Grandma bring you?", he didn't know what I was talking about! He didn't know what a Grandma was! I thought that was so crazy at first, but I suppose if you are 4 years old and you are taught that she is your "Nana" and not "Grandma", why WOULD you know what a Grandma is? So whenever I ask him something about his Grandma, I have to stop myself and switch over to the "Nana" word. This is so strange to me!
OK, one of my theories on the million variations of Grandmother is that nowdays people have so many freaking grandparents because of the child's parents divorcing and then each parent remarries, so he/she could potentially have 4 sets of grandparents, not just 2 anymore. And to not cause confusion, many different pet names need to be used.
Another theory is just different family traditions, regions of the country, cultures, etc. Again, I think I just grew up in a boring family in that respect because we didn't really have any weird pet names - just the basics. I don't even remember calling my parents "Mommy" and "Daddy" either - it has always been "Mom" and "Dad." I think I have blogged in the past about even adults in the south still using "Daddy" - that really isn't done in the north, or you would probably get some strange looks. But like Mayce - with her thick southern accent, she can TOTALLY get away with it because it just fits and it's cute term of endearment.
Any thoughts on family pet names?? This is kind of a foreign concept to me, but I find it fascinating.
6 comments:
I have a Nana (her husband was Papa before he passed away). I guess when my Mom had me, she said she was FAR too young to be a Grandma and she thought Nana sounded younger :)
I also think it's cute when the Grandkids name the Grandparents accidentally. I met someone recently whose Granddaughter called her "Honey." No one knows how it started, but it was so cute to hear this little two year old call her Grandma Honey. It was like role-reversal.
I also like when people use the ethnic names like Oma and Opa (German) and Mimi and Pipi (Polish).
I agree with Iris - I think some of the names come from grandma's and grandpa's who think they are too young to be called grandma & grandpa and come up with some other nickname. We've always used grandma & grandpa in our family but I've noticed lately that my kids, who are adults by the way, are getting a little lazy and calling them g'pa and g'ma. Kids....
Jason's parents go by Nana & Papa. They became grandparents at a young age as well (40 I think?) I am sad that someday my eventual kids won't have known a grandpa or depending on how long my mom lives a grandma, since that is what I have always known myself. I guess they just won't know what they are missing out on, and it is more my thing than anything. Allison
Someone is Scott's family called her grandmother GaGa. Now that she has grandchildren, she goes by some weird G version of a name too.
My mom goes by Nana, but only because she doesn't want to be known by the same name as my dad's mom.
Like you Lauri, we only used the usual Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa in my family. Using anything other than that just sounds odd to me. Greg only calls his grandpa "Grandfather". Very formal and everytime he says it, it thows me off. I don't think there is anything wrong with being "traditional or boring", each individual family determines what is best and special for their family.
Renee :-)
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