Hi Ladies! We finally told everyone and my MIL is making our pregnancy all about her. She actually asked me why I haven't congratulated her on becoming a g'ma? Are you serious? Because you didn't do anything!!
She is driving me bananas and with these mood swings/my new short temper - I am going to blow. She put all of this stuff on FB and started asking for suggestions on what to have her grandkids call her.
I know a lot of people have nicknames for grandparents, but all of mine, regardless of which side of the family, have always been Grandma and Grandpa. It was never an issue and we always knew exactly who we were talking about. I actually hate nicknames, it's a huge thing for me! But she wants to be called NeNe because grandma is too common.
So, to my question... Can I say thanks, but no thanks because I will be the one who is actually teaching the kids which grandma is which and where we are going? Or does she pick the name and I just have to go with it? Luckily both my parents want to be Grandma and Grandpa!
Re: What to call grandparents?
This! If it makes you feel any better my MIL and FIL have the strangest nicknames. They go by Boo and Spanky. Everyone calls them that, even my husband and all his friends. I don't think I knew their real names until DH and I had been dating for a few months. Needless to say, I wouldn't have picked those names, but they are so fitting. Your in-laws may have to wait and see what the LO will call them. I think more than anything that will determine the name (what they choose to pronounce lol).
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In my experience, the kids pick the names. My mom wanted to be Mimi, but my oldest nephew messed up the pronounciation and she became DeeDee. It stuck and that's what all of the grandkids call her.
My oldest niece on my husband's side called my MIL Nana, but my oldest son couldn't pronounce that. He called her Nina, so now that's what stuck and is what all of my kids call her.
This. No matter what they want to be called it's always going to be whatever comes out of the kids' mouths! And I doubt any grandparent would argue with that.
I agree with the previous PPs that whatever name your MIL picks is probably going to be distorted by her grandkids. The important part is that you can still refer to her as grandma and she can train them to call her whatever she wants. Trust me, the name that my SIL calls her MIL is definitely not the one that her kids use.
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With SD, I let my mom pick while I retained veto power. She wanted to be called Granny and I told her no way. She chose Gigi next and I love it. The ILs chose Grams and Grampster and it just fits them completely.
My own grandmother was Mama Pooh growing up because my brother mispronounced the last name Poole. I find it very awkward to call her that now that I'm an adult.
I'd share your concerns and see if you can reach an amicable agreement.
I love that you don't congratulate her on becoming a grandma. Awesome!!!
My parents said we will let him figure out what to call us. So we have Nana and Bapa. He is 2 who knows what they will become! On DH's side they had 4 other grandkids and they are called Grandpa and Grandma by the older but DS still calls them Nana and Bapa.