Is the term Panda to describe my baby offensive?

hrshykis · July 2013

Hey all -

I was just wondering what others thought of this topic. My husband and I are having our first child in October and we have been calling him "Baby Panda" the entire pregnancy. I'm black and my DH is white. I have been thinking of suggesting to my BFF (who's hosting my baby shower) about carrying over this panda theme to the baby shower but I don't want to be offensive. Have I inadvertently been offensive this entire time and no one has told me?? Or am I over thinking this? I just want to be sensitive and not offensive to our baby or anyone else. Thoughts??

PrimRoseMama · July 2013

I have no idea. I just don't have words for this post. This is rare.

sfeebs13 · July 2013

I'm not quite sure how to react either.

I don't know if having a Panda themed shower would really be significant to anyone other than you and your DH.. thats about all I can come up with.

Weljadraak · July 2013

Well,

pandas are black and white.

grace_smith03 · July 2013

I think it's cute. However, I think the best people to run it by are close girlfriends/family members....everyone is allowed to feel differently. Or you could just be, "hey, be offended or not, whatevs" and run with it.

Winecheese&grapes · July 2013

I bet 90 percent of your guests won't even put the 2 together unless you tell them. I get it, now that you've explained it, but I never would think panda simply because the baby is biracial. So I'd say be ready to explain the concept repeatedly if you want people to know, otherwise it's just another animal theme.

babymama619 · July 2013

grace_smith03:
I think it's cute. However, I think the best people to run it by are close girlfriends/family members....everyone is allowed to feel differently. nbsp;Or you could just be, "hey, be offended or not, whatevs" and run with it.

I agree, run it by some friends, especially those who are most sensitive. I'm expecting a biracial baby too, I'm white and BD is black. This weekend at a baby shower for another biracial couple I said something about a mixed baby and like three people were offended. Sometimes bite Hal just seems pretentious or too wordy for me. So apparently you just need to judge the audience and their sensibilities.
I however think pandas are an adorable theme.

lollipoppoop · July 2013

I love pandas they are my favorite. Anyways, my advice would be to do whatever you want and what is offensive to some people (esp the people that don't know you) isn't offensive to others. I don't see anything wrong with it but im not easily offended.

hrshykis · July 2013

No, our families wouldn't think it's offensive. Initially in my head I was relating pandas with Asian and seeing how our baby would not be Asian, I just didn't want to represent our baby as something he's not (other than the obvious black and white). I think my pregnancy brain is in overdrive...

ljh556 · July 2013

Sounds like a term of endearment that you and your DH have coined for YOUR child. If you and him don't find it offensive, and as long as you make it clear to your child that he is Loved, I wouldn't care what others think. Those who know you and love you will know that you are just showing Love for your child the same way you love your SO. Love doesn't know color, especially for a child. Besides it's not like the kid is going to go to school and tell people to call him panda, calling him Panda will probably be limited to close friends and family. They love him, you love him and daddy loves him. So who cares what others think!

little_bren · July 2013

ljh556:
Sounds like a term of endearment that you and your DH have coined for YOUR child. If you and him don't find it offensive, and as long as you make it clear to your child that he is Loved, I wouldn't care what others think. Those who know you and love you will know that you are just showing Love for your child the same way you love your SO. Love doesn't know color, especially for a child. Besides it's not like the kid is going to go to school and tell people to call him panda, calling him Panda will probably be limited to close friends and family. They love him, you love him and daddy loves him. So who cares what others think!

I actually know a girl who is black and whose husband is black and they call their first child Panda and the second child they call Badger since badgers are also black a white. I don't find it offensive, but it's NMS. (I am white and my husband is Polynesian) But who cares? It's your baby? I don't know that I would carry it to the party theme, but that's up to you.

Littlemama01 · July 2013

Doesn't offend me - I think it's kinda cute..but me and H are both White..we just call our baby "baby! lol"

vstevens · July 2013

Littlemama01:
Doesn't offend me - I think it's kinda cute..but me and H are both White..we just call our baby "baby! lol"

This was a completely, totally bizarre comment, but did get me thinking. MH and I happen to be caucasian. If I went to a couple's shower and the theme was polar bear, and I found out it was because the parents were both caucasian, I would think that was very, very strange. Thus, the panda theme is also quite strange.

I would find a theme for your baby shower that's not related to race. But that's just me.

butterfly617 · July 2013

I love this.

I'm not sure if anyone would be offended, but facts are facts. You're black, H is white, the baby will be both black and white.... I don't think anyone should be offended, you're bringing attention to what everybody already knows.

It's adorable.

Dreamingmommy4 · July 2013

butterfly617:
I love this.
I'm not sure if anyone would be offended, but facts are facts. You're black, H is white, the baby will be both black and white.... I don't think anyone should be offended, you're bringing attention to what everybody already knows.
It's adorable.

i agree with this. I think it's a sweet term of endearment.