When our granddaughter, KC was 2 years old she started calling me Gobi and Art was Papa. To improve her language, we'd point to me and clearly enunciate "Grandma" and then point to Art and say, "Grandpa."
When we returned to Illinois from Hawaii, our daughter, Tiffany had KC hold a big sign that said, "Welcome back, Gobi and Papa!"
I got to like being called Gobi.
That's when KC suddenly started calling me Grandma.
I actually told her it was OK to call me Gobi.
But no, from that moment on I was Grandma. Tiffany still laughs about that.
My son-in-law is Korean American so his parents are Harmoni and Haraboji.
There's no problem identifying us.
When we were in Maryland, our little grandson, JD called Art Baga and I was Gaga.
We thought it was hilarious and didn't correct him. This time we figured we could keep the names, and our daughter-in-law, Sarah's parents could be Grandpa and Grandma.
It wasn't to be. A couple of months later, JD started calling us Grandpa and Grandma.
Sigh... Now each set of grandparents don't have their own identification.
A friend of mine has her grandchildren call her Nana.
I looked up cute grandparent names. You can find anything online these days, and came up with these.
Mawmaw and Pawpaw, Geema and Geepa, Nana and Papa, Baba and Gigi (Ukranian), Bibi and Babu (Swahili), Meme and Pepaw (supposed to be popular in the southern US), Grams and Gramps, Grammie and Grampy, etc.
What names have you heard?
When we returned to Illinois from Hawaii, our daughter, Tiffany had KC hold a big sign that said, "Welcome back, Gobi and Papa!"
I got to like being called Gobi.
That's when KC suddenly started calling me Grandma.
I actually told her it was OK to call me Gobi.
But no, from that moment on I was Grandma. Tiffany still laughs about that.
My son-in-law is Korean American so his parents are Harmoni and Haraboji.
There's no problem identifying us.
When we were in Maryland, our little grandson, JD called Art Baga and I was Gaga.
We thought it was hilarious and didn't correct him. This time we figured we could keep the names, and our daughter-in-law, Sarah's parents could be Grandpa and Grandma.
It wasn't to be. A couple of months later, JD started calling us Grandpa and Grandma.
Sigh... Now each set of grandparents don't have their own identification.
A friend of mine has her grandchildren call her Nana.
I looked up cute grandparent names. You can find anything online these days, and came up with these.
Mawmaw and Pawpaw, Geema and Geepa, Nana and Papa, Baba and Gigi (Ukranian), Bibi and Babu (Swahili), Meme and Pepaw (supposed to be popular in the southern US), Grams and Gramps, Grammie and Grampy, etc.
What names have you heard?
I am Grandma, but Mike was best known as Grumpa. I think I was the one who named him that because it fit so well. He was distinctly uncomfortable around small children.
ReplyDeleteMy oldest grandchild labeled me "Granny Annie" at first pronounced "Yanny Yanny". My son nicknames his paternal grandmother "Grandma Sugar" because she always ask him to give her some sugar (kisses).
ReplyDeleteI am Gigi since I am a great grandmother. My two of my grandchildren are almost 39, one is 34, one is 32, and one is 27. My greats are 13 and 7 and 5.
ReplyDeleteCute! I don't have any grandchildren to call me anything at all, but I know I called mine "Gram" and "Gramps." :-)
ReplyDeleteAww.
ReplyDeleteMy kids call my husband's mom 'Nana' to differentiate from 'Grandma' for my now deceased mom. They never really knew my dad. My husband's dad was called 'Pa' before he died. Interesting post Kay.
ReplyDeleteMy one grandfather was called Gimpa, and the other was Grandpa. :)
ReplyDeleteI chose 'Gammi' for my oldest grandson (wanted to be a little unique), but my youngest daughter, when she started having her 2 sons, didn't like 'Gammi', and instead started called me Grammy for her boys. So I go by two names. Oh wells. And my hubby is trying to teach the 2 youngest to call him Lolo, Tagalong for Grandpa. The oldest was too old when he came into our lives, so to him he's just called by his first name. Important thing is they just talk to us, no matter what they call me. :)
ReplyDeleteI am Nana (to my joy) because I had a very close relationship with my grandparents whom I called Nana and Papa. They lived within walking distance from my home...But my late husband is called Papapa because my granddaughters call their own German father Papa. My Nana is pronounced with long "a"s (as sometimes Italian do) but in England and Australia I know people who pronounce this to rhyme with banana.
ReplyDeleteVery cute! Our son always called his grandparents Nana and Papa.
ReplyDeleteI was supposed to be Nona...but I am Neena...go figure.
ReplyDeleteSo cute!
ReplyDeleteCute survey of the topic, Kay!
ReplyDeleteI loved it when Irene was about three years old and started calling me "Grandmother", because of a game we played when they visited us and I was the Fairy Godmother. But that did not last either. We are gramma and grampa, and are only distinguished when it is necessary by the addition of our first names.
ReplyDeleteI'd have missed Gobi also. That is so cute. No grands but my great niece calls me Happy.
ReplyDeleteMeemaw and Geegaw is one I can't stand that people use. Way too redneck
ReplyDeleteI wonder how they came up with those. I didn't know Sheldon's name for his grandmother was a real thing.
Deletemy paternal grandma always had me all her auntie because she was only 40 when I her first grandchild was born...in texas they call grandparents meemaw and papa...
ReplyDeleteI always thought Big Bang Theory's Sheldon's name for his grandmother which was Meemaw was made up. Now I know better.
DeleteWe rarely see our grandchildren but it' Nana and Papa.
ReplyDeleteWe grew up with Country Grandma and Flushing Grandma. Flushing is a town on the border of Long Island and Manhattan, NY. Alas, both Grandmas survived their husbands by decades. Such was life back in the day.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm.... Flushing Grandma? I'm not so sure I'd like that.
DeleteFlushing was the Dutch-derived name of a well-known town bordering New York City. (Vliessen or something like that.) Flushing, was destined to become urban when the elevated/subway train stopped there, thus making it right next door to the greatest city on earth: New York. Flushing is entirely multiracial today, mainly Asian, and a place where multiple flight attendants will rent one apartment as a place for all to sleep as it is near the airports. My parents and grandparents ALL lived in Flushing 1900-1950. My father and his brothers lived a Huck Finn, small town existence while growing up. No negativity associated with that name.
DeleteBy the way, what's wrong with Tutu for your family?
Helen, born in Hawaii, was Tutu. I myself am Nonno to my two granddaughters, as their father is second-generation Italian-American and that is the name I was dubbed with as soon as they could talk. I like the name, just as much as I like Flushing Grandma who taught me everything I know about the Bible which really came to my aid as a literature professor.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flushing,_Queens
DeleteVLISSINGEN is the name of the Dutch City which became known as FLUSHING in New York.
DeleteI was wondering... since Flushing doesn't sound like a Dutch name. Hmmm... Tutu? I don't know.
DeleteWhy not Granny Kay and Grandpa Art? You could certainly bear example to your beautiful heritage by suggesting the Japanese names for grandparents, eh? I only had one grandparent alive when I was born, so she was simply Grandma, and a frail, sitting in the rocker type. I have the wooden milking stool that was next to her rocker, and refinished the rocker, and still remember sitting on it while she patted me on the head with her bony, thin hand. She could still muster some humor by joking that she was gonna put a brick on my head cuz I was growing too fast. (Bricks were relevant due to our family name.)
ReplyDeleteWhen married to my son's Dad, I found it odd that folks called his parents Grandma and Grandpa with the last name attached, but I think it's fairly common, as in Grandma Smith.
With most of their grandkids, my Mom had "competition" from grandmothers from the other side, but my Dad seemed to be the only grandfather. So, my Mom became the famous "Granny Lou." As a child, "GrannyLouandGrandpa" was one word and one set couple and place to visit for all 6 of their grandkids. Never doubt that your grandkids will remember the general love and adventures you're creating for them. You just won't know which ones are their favorite events until they grow older.
Hmmm, "GrannyKayandGrandpaArty" sounds fun. Linda in Kansas
Too funny! I wonder how it will all play out. I like the sound of Granny Lou. Hmmmm... Granny Kay? Hmmmm...
DeleteMy mother refuses to be called Obachan (Japanese for grandmother) because she felt it made her seem old. Yes, she is 88 now, but she prefers "Aachan" which is a child version. That's what her mother was called. Since I am grandma to KC and JD, mom is Aachan to everybody instead of Sosobo (great-grandmother in Japanese). Have fun this weekend, Linda!
We are Amma and Buppa, still, even though they are 8 and 10. I love being Buppa.
ReplyDeleteI made a point of picking my name, Nana when first granddaughter came. To me Grandma belongs to my mother because that's what my daughters called her and even though she's no longer with us I couldn't be that. Dan is Papa. Grandparents for son in laws use other names so no confusion.
ReplyDeleteI like grandma and grandpa so that's what we are. The other grandma calls herself nana, which is fine by me. There are actually 3 sets of grandparents as my son-in-law's parents are divorced and remarried. His dad and stepmom, though, seldom see the grandkids and are not really a part of their life. I want my grandchildren, when they are old, to remember me and say, "we had the best grandma ever." I only had one grandmother and she was very elderly and lived far away when I was little. She was not part of my life.
ReplyDeleteThe other grandma, when my first grandchild born, very concerned about what she would be called. She made a point from the birth to quickly tell the parents she wanted to be called Nana. They felt awkward about not offending me, so said they hoped I wouldn’t mind. I just laughed and said I preferred to let the grandchild come up with whatever name they wanted to use though the parents modeled “Grandma”+ my last name. With my Mom I had modeled “Gramma” + first initial of her last name, while the other was called Grandma + her full last name cause it was such a short word starting with one of the phonemes first acquired by a child. People might be wise to consider sound development stages, but most don’t. My children didn’t have living grandfathers, unfortunately, and I only had one but he died soon after I was born.
ReplyDeleteeven though they are 8 and 10. I love being Buppa.
ReplyDeletegay