lynn Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 I have friends who are now grandmothers and they go by Gigi, Cece, Nene, one chose GrandMary (her first name). Whatever happened to grandma, grandmommy, granny or nana? Does it just sound to old for today's 40 something grandmother? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Upward Journey Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 idk, but I just became a Mimi on Monday :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JVA Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 Personally, if I get to become a grandmother, I prefer to be called 'Grammy'. The name 'grandma' just sounds OLD to me. My grandma just died at 95 last year . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impish Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 I don't know why there's such variety. I don't think it's bad, just different. Although, when my mom tried to get the kids to start calling her 'GrandMom' when they've always called her 'Grandma' I stepped on that one. Hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaithManor Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 I think it is because many children, due to medical interventions, have several grandmothers alive and so everybody needs a convenient title. When dd came along, all four of her great-grandmothers were still alive and she was going to be coming into regular contact with them all during her learning to talk years. This gave her six grandmas and many times, three were in the room at once. So, we had grandma (my mom), granny (dh's mom), grandmere (my paternal grandmother), grandmammy (my maternal grandmother), mimi (dh's paternal grandmother), and nana (dh's maternal grandmother). Since dd says that her future children will NOT refer to me as "Oh, exalted mother" :D, I'm shooting for "marmee" from Little Women because I don't like grandma, mimi, or nana. I'm very serious about this! :001_smile: Faith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs. A Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 It could also be cultural. My mom asked to go by Noni because her family is Italian and that's what she called her favorite grandmother and my dad goes by Papito because that's what he called his grandfather. I've always called my own grandparents (the Italian ones) Grandma and Grandpa and my dad's mom was Abuela (which is Spanish for grandma). DH's family is Arabic so his parents go by Sitti and Sidi. We have lots of names going on in our family. :) I guess DH is right- we just can't make things simple around here. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Upward Journey Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 OK, so why I'm Mimi instead of Nana. Well, my d-dil's mom is Nana, and my still living grandmother is also Nana. My mom is Grammie already, Oma didn't feel right.....I could go on.....anyway I gave my son & dil a choice between Gig (my g-grandmother's name) & Mimi. They chose the latter :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slipper Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 My MIL is terrified of being seen as "old". So, the girls call her by her first name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynn Posted June 8, 2012 Author Share Posted June 8, 2012 Since dd says that her future children will NOT refer to me as "Oh, exalted mother" :D, I'm shooting for "marmee" from Little Women because I don't like grandma, mimi, or nana. I'm very serious about this! :001_smile: Faith That's funny, she just won't go for that one??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly1730 Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 I was young (VERY young) when I became a grandmother and, frankly, didn't know what I wanted to be called. First dear grandson fixed that, he just called me "mimi" whenever he started to talk, and it stuck!;) My mom is nana, and my dil's mother is mom-mom. I like Marmee, wish I'd thought of it;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Michelle* Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 I'll be happy to be called "Granny" or "Grandma." Both of our moms died young; only my husband's mother met any of our children and she passed away shortly after our oldest's first birthday. If I'm still around when my grandchildren are old enough to actually call me something, I'll be happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangermom Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 I agree that many kids have a passel of grandparents who need to be differentiated. (We have a Grandpa Hat.) And there are lots of names from various cultures! My own grandmother did not like to be called grandma, just as her own mom didn't like it. They didn't like titles in general; it wasn't an 'old' thing. So we all called them by their first names. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaT Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 idk, but I just became a Mimi on Monday :D I am also a Mimi. Congratulations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 My friend goes by MeeMaw. I don't like it, but I guess that just means I don't have to choose it! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaT Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 I think it is because many children, due to medical interventions, have several grandmothers alive and so everybody needs a convenient title. When dd came along, all four of her great-grandmothers were still alive and she was going to be coming into regular contact with them all during her learning to talk years. This gave her six grandmas and many times, three were in the room at once. So, we had grandma (my mom), granny (dh's mom), grandmere (my paternal grandmother), grandmammy (my maternal grandmother), mimi (dh's paternal grandmother), and nana (dh's maternal grandmother). Since dd says that her future children will NOT refer to me as "Oh, exalted mother" :D, I'm shooting for "marmee" from Little Women because I don't like grandma, mimi, or nana. I'm very serious about this! :001_smile: Faith Yep, there was already a grandma, granny, and a Nana, so I'm Mimi (although I really like Oh, exalted mother :001_smile:). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angela in ohio Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 When I was growing up, my grandma was Mimi and my great-grandma was Nanny. I don't think it's a new thing. I think it also varies by culture or family tradition. We mix it up so that there aren't any of the same name. My dc have a Grandma and a Grammy and a Grampy. I have already claimed Mimi (for sentimental reasons) and dh Papa (because he likes it.) Oldest dd (likely to have dc first) already knows there will be trouble otherwise! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 I have friends who are now grandmothers and they go by Gigi, Cece, Nene, one chose GrandMary (her first name). Whatever happened to grandma, grandmommy, granny or nana? Does it just sound to old for today's 40 something grandmother? Haha - 40something grandmother? Heavens, I'm almost 50 now, and I'm guessing it'll be another decade or two before I'm a grandmother. Probably won't mind a grandmother title by then - I'll be so excited to have grandkids! My kids call my mother Oma because that's the traditional German word, and MIL they call Nama because that's what all the grandmothers in their family have been called from way back. I think my brother's MIL goes by Mimi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneezyone Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 My kids have Gigi (maternal great-grandmother), Gramma (maternal grandmother) and Gramma Mary (maternal stepmom). DH's parents and grandparents are deceased. Not everyone is opposed to good ol' grandma! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Upward Journey Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 I am also a Mimi. Congratulations! Thanks! I get to meet him next Thursday. I can't wait!!!! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 (edited) It could also be cultural. My mom asked to go by Noni because her family is Italian and that's what she called her favorite grandmother :iagree:In my Italian-American family grandmas were always Nona (pronounced like Donna). I was so excited to finally be Nona when dss's son was born, and my cousin is going to be Nona in August. Like her mom said, it's our turn now. Dh's family all say Mamaw, which is apparently a southern thing. And then of course there's Meemaw (think Sheldon). I also know a great-grandma who is called Gigi, which is really G.G. for great-grandma. It's to distinguish between the grandma and great-grandma. I do get what you're saying though. I know quite a few grandmothers who say they don't want to be called grandma because they don't like the idea of being a grandmother. I don't understand it. I love my new role! Edited June 8, 2012 by floridamom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edelweiss Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 I'll be happy to be called "Granny" or "Grandma." Both of our moms died young; only my husband's mother met any of our children and she passed away shortly after our oldest's first birthday. If I'm still around when my grandchildren are old enough to actually call me something, I'll be happy. Agreed! But I will say that I think that I would hate to be called "grandma" if I became a grandmother at 40-something. :001_huh: I can't even imagine. I had my first at 31 and my second at 34, and I'm hoping that my girls wait to have their kids as well. If it happens that way, I'll definitely be old enough to earn the title of "grandma". :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammyla Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 My sister insists on Nana. Shrug...she definately has issues with age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Serenade Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 My mom (German) didn't let my brother's kids call her Oma, so she wouldn't let my kids, either. She said it made her feel old. She was fine with grandma, though, I guess since the word grandma wasn't part of her culture growing up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama Geek Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 I just wish the grandparents wouldn't make a big deal about how they could't stand to be called a certain title. In our case it was grandma who said she couldn't stand grandma or grandmother and that it had to be grandmommy. It really didn't matter to me what she is to be called, but the way it came across was a true dislike of the other terms. I called mine grandmother or grandma (and they bring up lots of happy memories) and it just felt like a slap in the face. I know that this is my problem, but there are so many other problems between us that this just added to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nukeswife Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 My grandma didn't want to be called Busia, which is one Polish name for grandma, because that's what her MIL was called and her MIL was a nasty woman. So she has to live with the fact that my daughter dubbed her Grandma with the White hair (although it's more salt and pepper than white) My oldest says he wants us all to move to Texas so he can eventually make me a MeeMaw like Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory tv show. More than likely I'm destined to become Grandma Pete, just like my MIL and GMIL (due to a nickname from our last name) My dh called his paternal grandparent Grandma and Grandpa Pete and my kids call my MIL and FIL that (dh's grandma that is still alive goes by G.G. Pete to our kids), so I'm figure dh and I will eventually become Grandma and Grandpa Pete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandylubug Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 We have a MeMe and a Nana. We didn't know what they would be called. We tried out all kind of names for my mom, including grammy, grandma and my oldest was the first grandchild and it came out as MeMe and the name stuck. Now, Nana was clearly chosen by my MIL. She didn't want to be called a grandma in her 40's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 My kids call both their grandmas 'grandma' and differentiate them when needed by adding their last name. It's rarely necessary because we usually know by context who they're talking about. The same with my grandkids- they call me and their other grandma 'grandma' and even call their two great grandmas 'grandma'. It works for us. My great grandma was always called Oma and it just seemed like a name for an old person. So I never wanted to adopt that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaxMom Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 I think it's a vanity thing. I plan on being a Mémé (MEH-may) when I'm a grandmother, but my family is French. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vettechmomof2 Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 we have a nana and a grandma. The children's great grandmother and grandfather were called gigi and gi pop though and little nana(family grandmother name). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nrg Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 I can hardly wait to be called "grandma." We plan to be "Grandma" and "Papa" someday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 My mom chose to use Nana because she didn't like the name grandma in her 40s. I could possibly be a grandma in my 40s. I'm 44 right now and my oldest is 20. I'm totally cool with the name and role of grandma. I hope I don't have to wait years and years before becoming a grandma. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 I don't want to be "Grandma," or "Granny." :ack2: I am, however, "Grandmother." That's what we called my mother's mother (didn't know my paternal grandmother). My hula teacher tried to get her granddaughter to call her "Auntie," which is a term of respect used to address older women, and she thought she'd been successful in getting her to say that...but then her granddaughter called her "Auntie Granny." :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynn Posted June 8, 2012 Author Share Posted June 8, 2012 My mom (German) didn't let my brother's kids call her Oma, so she wouldn't let my kids, either. She said it made her feel old. She was fine with grandma, though, I guess since the word grandma wasn't part of her culture growing up. My mom always said there could only be one Oma in the family (her mom), so she chose grandma. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Princess Peach Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 My DH and I grew up saying Grandma Last Name and Grandpa Last Name and that's what our kids do with our parents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edelweiss Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 My DH and I grew up saying Grandma Last Name and Grandpa Last Name and that's what our kids do with our parents. That's what I grew up with too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PollyOR Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 I am "Grandma." When we are discussing more than one grandparent we tack on our last names. "Grandma" sounded really weird at first, but I've gotten used to it. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dustybug Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 When I was a kid, my great grandmother and my grandmother were both still alive. I used to have great fun yelling, "Grandma!" when they were both in the room just to giggle when they both turned around to look at me. :tongue_smilie: I didn't know anyone on the paternal side, including my own father so don't really know what would have gone on there. My kids call my mom Grandma and my MIL Mamaw (which I agree is a southern thing). I hadn't really thought too much about what I would be called because my kids are still so young, but I like the sound of "Nana" better than "Grandma." I wouldn't be opposed to being called Grandma though, although I really really hope that I don't turn into a Mamaw (although DH will probably want to be called Papaw). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twilight Woods Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 My mom is called "NaNa" and my MIL is called Grandma. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justamouse Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 I do, but I have a feeling I'm an outlier. At 45 and up, women are not considering themselves of an age to be called Grandma anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMW Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 I had the most AMAZING "Grandma Betty" and since I am named after her, that's what I have chosen to be called. My first grandson switches it for some reason and oftentimes calls me "Betty-Grandma"! It's too cute! He now calls me "grandma" most the time. I don't mind being called Grandma, since that's what the grandmother's were called in my family. It would be fun to be Noni... I was Mimi when I babysat and the baby wanted to call me mom... But, I am Grandma! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmulcahy Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 I just wish the grandparents wouldn't make a big deal about how they could't stand to be called a certain title. In our case it was grandma who said she couldn't stand grandma or grandmother and that it had to be grandmommy. It really didn't matter to me what she is to be called, but the way it came across was a true dislike of the other terms. I called mine grandmother or grandma (and they bring up lots of happy memories) and it just felt like a slap in the face. I know that this is my problem, but there are so many other problems between us that this just added to it. My MIL wanted to be called Nana and my FIL wanted to be called Poppa. Well, when my son, their first grandchild, could talk it came out Nene and Pop Pop. It stuck and all my kids call them that. My in-laws never refer to themselves as Nene and Pop Pop and it really bothers my kids. Yes, I get it...it is like a slap in the face too. That is what they could say when they were itty bitty and that is what they still call them. When MIL signs a card it is Nana and Poppa and my kids just cringe at it. Another story...when my nephew was little he could not say grandma and it came out goofy. He is 21 and my mom is still goofy. She embrace it and thinks it is pretty cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tori@thehomefront Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 My brothers and I had 2 grandmas, differentiated by last name (Grandma Jones). My niece and nephew have a Mimi and a Meemaw, which I think is traditional for my sil's family. OTOH, my mil would prefer to be called Grandmother, but I don't know that any of her grandkids do...it just seems kind of weirdly formal to them, I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MariannNOVA Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 My grand daughters call me 'Big Penguin' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmulcahy Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 My grand daughters call me 'Big Penguin' :lol:There has to be a cool story to go along with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 My grandma was a grandma, but I had a Baba too...family tradition on that side. My mom goes by Grandma. My MIL was conflicted (and yes, it was because she didn't want to sound old), but she died before my daughter could talk, so it wasn't an issue. I can't wait to be a grandma someday! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happymomofboys Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 I was single and living with my mom when I gave birth to my oldest son. She was like a second mother to him for the first year of his life, so I'm "mama" and she's "grandmama." I think when I'm a grandmother, I'll be "grandmama" too. Dh's mom is "granny." I could never be a "granny." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Rat Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 idk, but I just became a Mimi on Monday :D Congrats! My mom is Mimi, too. We have a nana (MIL), and a NanatheGreat (my grandmother). I call her Nan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mimm Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 I love all the variety in grandmother names. :) I wish I had chosen other grandmother names for my kids to use but they use Grandma Lastname except for one great-greatmother who is Grandma Mary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elvis and Miss Kitty Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 I became a stepgrandmother at 42. My grandchildren call me YaYa and their other grandmothers Nana and Grammy. My stepson's grandmother on his mother's side is called Grunt (still haven't figured that one out yet).:lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 My mom (German) didn't let my brother's kids call her Oma, so she wouldn't let my kids, either. She said it made her feel old. She was fine with grandma, though, I guess since the word grandma wasn't part of her culture growing up. My mom balked at Oma, but finally came around. The alternatives she was coming up with were kind of ridiculous (grandma wasn't any better to her). :tongue_smilie: I called my great-grandmother (her grandmother) Oma. My grandparents were also supposed to be Oma/Opa (and great-grandmother "Big Oma"), but I couldn't pronounce them, so they became Mom-mom and Pop-pop. I'll be happy to be Oma or Omi someday. :) My dad's parents were Grandma/Grandpa Lastname, even though there was no need for a distinction. :confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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