What's in a name?
What were the names in your house? Did you have the classic "mom and dad" or did you hold on to your younger years for awhile and stick with "mommy and daddy"? I grew up in Tennessee. We had "momma" and then just "dad." But you do have to imagine "momma" said with a perfect southern accent. John has the perfect way of calling his mom, he always has. It's said very low and almost mournful. "Mo-o-ohm." His sister, Jill, has always used "mommy." It's very matter-of-fact. In fact if I answer the phone at their house when she calls she says "You're not my mommy."
I'm hoping Téah goes with "momma" for awhile. Even if we do live in Pittsburgh now.
When we were little my parents tried to get us to call our grandparents "grandma and grandpa." It didn't fly. They ended up being "mamaw and papaw." And this had an absolutely impeccable southern accent. We have the video footage to prove it. My Dad is determined that his grandkids will call him Grandad. Nothing else. I told him he's a fuddy-duddy. Currently he's "an-dada" to Gavin. My mom is "an-momma". How can you not love that? Sorry Dad, Grandad is boring!
about me
- alyssa
- I am wife to John, mom to Téah Jane and Micah Alexander, singer/songwriter, part of a wonderful community called "the Open Door." I live in the East End of Pittsburgh. We live in a Farmhouse Victorian built in 1860 with our German Shepherd, Emma and our Great Dane, Tiny.
7 comments:
When my Granddaughter was born she had 6 grandmothers. I had not wanted to be called any of the traditional names. I became 'Tigger'. When she was not quite four she argued with me "you're not my grandmother, you're my tigger". I love it. Tiggers run through puddles and not around them and that suits me and my roudy girl just fine.
By the way Teah is such a cutie. Congratulations on your new house too.
Cousin Beverly in NC
I like being an-momma!!!!!!!!!!!
It's very German, actually. (says the linguist who can't remember -- pause while she googles --)
Opa and Oma is German for grandpa and grandma. Grossmutter is the formal Grandmother, and so on...
Sorry, where was I going with this? My mom's parents were Grandma and Grandpa. My dad's were Granny and Pop-Pop. Although I never met Pop-Pop. He died the year before I was born. I think my cousin Pam had an even cuter name for him, as she knew him (she's six years older?) but for the life of me I can't recall--oh Wocka-Poppa, which of course is a play on my actual non-SL last name.
Oh, and my mom is Mom, Ma, and mommy (depending on the mood/occasion.) Dad is Dad or Daddy, again, depending.
Beverly, I love Tigger! That is cute!
Momma - an-momma is the BEST :)
SL - I'm the same way with the mood. Sometimes my mom is Momma, sometimes its mom. Same with Dad and/or Daddy. I like the Opa and Oma too. Very sweet :)
Alyssa, you forgot to mention that when I was a baby I called my grandma guggy (that's how you say it). That stuck. Poor Gigi, (for some reason that's how she spells it).
These name conversations are funny aren't they? When I was young both of my sets of grandparents were Mamaw and Papaw. (Well my grandfahters both died when I was in 8 and 9 years old so it sorta fits there but I digress.) Both names I disliked. When my kids (you Alyssa!)were young they began calling their grandparents the same thing. Course, I later learned they liked it. So I want to be called boring old "Granddad!" Maybe since nothing about ME is boring! After all kids learn to call Jim . . Jim; and Sue . . . Sue. So they can call me Grandad. I WILL make it worth their while. :):):)
Terry is a smart man, if logic doesn't work go straight to bribery.
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