I didn’t want to be Grandma Firstname. My GD already has 2 other Grandma Firstnames, and I live furthest away so I wanted my own name (I certainly didn’t want to be referred to as the Other Grandma). I tried Nana for a few months, but it just didn’t feel right. I finally settled on GG, but who knows what my GD will utimately call me. DH is Grandpa, but the other grandfather is Grandpa Firstname, so I’m not sure DH can just go by Grandpa.
My mother was Grandma Dorothy, but little one had a hard time with all those syllables, so it eventually morphed into Grandma Dorsch and then just Dorsch – which meant Grandma or MIL or mom depending on the speaker. Dorsch was very proud of her title, since, as far as we know, she was the only one in the world.
@AboutTheSame Your post reminded me of a dear old friend whose children’s grandmother was Dorothy. Her elder son could not pronounce Grandma Dorothy, as planned, and instead called her DoDo. Dorothy was DoDo until the day she passed away and she loved the name. 
I am Nonnie and H is Poppie. The other grandparents are grandma and grandpa.
I, otherwise, would have chosen Granny because it makes me laugh.
So my grandson is 18 months old this week. What a joy, though he lives a plane ride away. My son and DIL named him after my father, who died 18 years ago, way too young. It’s a very normal, old-fashioned name, think “David”. My son is the only grandchild who actually remembers his granddad. I cried when they told me the baby’s name. My husband is grandpa, and I am gramma. I tried granny aka Downton Abbey, but it just didn’t feel right. They’re coming for Christmas, and I am so excited.
I’m called MiMi and Dh is called Grumpy. Our names happened bc of a joke. Dh told the kids that he would pay them if they called me Granny. I told them no way, and that if I was Granny, he was going to be Grumpy. I definitely did not want want to be called Granny. (Our oldest got married when our youngest was a newborn, and I became a grandmother when my youngest Dd was only 17 months old.) Anyway, the kids thought it was all hilarious and called Dh Grumpy. I don’t remember how the MiMi (they spell it that way, but pronounce it me-me) came about, but it is an easy one for little ones to say and I like it.
The funny from this, though, is my older grandkids have just started to understand that Grumpy has a meaning other than their rather hilarious grandfather! (Exactly why he ended up with the name Grumpy in the first place!) Our ds’s 3 oldest kids lived with us for several weeks bc our dil had major complications with her last pregnancy. One day the youngest (4) was in such a bad temper that I told him he was in the grumpiest mood I had ever seen him in. That led to an interesting conversation between the 7 and 6 yr olds and their 8 yr old aunt! The ensuing debate and discussion was quite humorous. I guess my grandkids had never heard (or at minimum never understood) the word grumpy used outside of the context of “our wonderful grandpa.”
This grandparent name thing is kind of hilarious. My parents were both of French Canadian backgrounds and we called grandparents Memere and Pepere. However, my mother’s mother was a taller than her husband, and my father’s mother was very short relative to my father’s father. My generation was also first to speak more English than French. So “Big Memere” was married to “Little Pepere,” and “Little Memere” was married to “Big Pepere.” That is what we called them. Now my daughter’s boyfriend who I hope becomes a fiance then son in law is not French Canadian, so the competition to use the names Memere and Pepere will unlikely be an issue. However, for the record, I DO NOT want to be called “Big” Memere, should there be grandchildren in our future.
I have been thinking about grandmother names and at the moment am leaning toward Mimi. Both my S and his wife call their grandmothers “Granny” and since both those Grannies are still living, it would be really confusing for all of us. I certainly don’t want to be the one labeled “Big Granny!” My real name starts with a C and I thought about being called Cookie but a friend said that was a stripper name. I also thought of Kiki but there is some song out now that I have not heard so my kids said no to that. I suppose I will wait to see what the baby calls me. My dad was going to be Grandpa, but my D pronounced it Pepaw, so that stuck.
What do you have at your home for the baby if they live out of state and don’t visit often? I would like to have a crib, but don’t have the room to leave one up all the time. I thought about getting one that was easy to take apart and put together. He other though was to get a compact crib that folds, but those are as expensive as a full size crib and I would like something with more stability. Of course there is a pack n play, but for a week visit I would think a crib with a crib mattress would be more comfortable. Both my kids live out of state, one with a 6 week old and the other is a minute pregnant
As usually I am overthinking this, but my grandchildren should be comfortable when visiting!!
Do you have access to the program “Next Door?” Or craigslist? Or garage sales? Around here, used baby equipment is cheap and/or free. You should be able to pick up a lightly used compact crib or pack n play for cheap.
We have used a play and pack. Two grandchildren and a close friends two children have used it.
We also have a single bed in the “kids room” for them when they outgrow it. If I did not have that room I would have an air mattress for them. Play and Packs work great for the youngest ones. When the parents no longer wanted them in their room we put them in the hallway outside their door. Then
eventually moved to the bedroom next door.
S & DIL are bringing the Pack n Play with them when they visit for Thanksgiving. GD is now 12 months old, but until she was 6-7 months old she slept in the Pack n Play all the time at their house. That’s when they finally bought a crib.
I’ve got a pack and play waiting for my 7 week old GD when she visits next week. I carried one in my trunk for years when my kids were young and I day-visited my parents with kids who needed naps.
Before buying any used durable baby equipment, google “the model” plus “recall.”
Well my DIL decided to bring their fancy pack n play that the baby currently sleeps in. As this is their first trip with her, my DIL was afraid she wouldn’t sleep in another bed; this from the baby that so far will sleep in her carseat, in your arms, on the sofa next to you, etc… My concern was they are flying on Wednesday night, and I worry the airlines will not be gentle with the pack n play and if it were to get damaged, they would be without. I have borrowed a friends just in case something happens.
When we downsized to our townhome, we did think about when the kids and future grand kids visited, but we didn’t think we would have babies so quickly and close together. I don’t know why we didn’t think that, the kids got married 11 months apart and they are all in their 30s; of course they were going to start families!
This grandparent name thing is kind of hilarious. My parents were both of French Canadian backgrounds and we called grandparents Memere and Pepere. >>>>>>>>
My dh is of Fr. Canadian descent as well and it sticking with Pepere. I like Memere as well, but unless people know French, they’re not going to get it right seeing it in print. That kinda bothers me. I am leaning towards adapting Mimi as an alternative. I’m from the south and my mom was Mamaw! My mds calls me that to his two year old son but I’m not sure I want it to stick. I can’t believe after all this time, I still don’t have a grandmother name!!! I always thought I’d do Nana but then when my grandson came along, it just didn’t seem right. He’s delayed in his speech so it’s not as if he calls me anything yet.
Don’t know if I already posted, but I found out last weekend we’re having a boy! Due in April.
Congratulations @runnersmom! Welcome to your new grandson and wishes for the entire family to get some sleep. Your S and DIL are so right! Other families are not so lucky. Names are tricky - I know that I keep my lips sealed sometimes when my head is saying, “Are you kidding?”
@VeryHappy, that is really annoying. I hope they really like the new OB. I would be turned off by the office management.
To all who will see their grandchildren over Thanksgiving – ENJOY!
D’s blood test results came back and everything looked good. Our niece and her family lost a baby girl with chromosome anomalies, including trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), at 24 weeks, so we all hold our breath now waiting for this test result when anyone in the family is expecting.
I am Nana. The way GS says it is so sweet - with such love in his little voice. SIL’s mom is Grandma. Both grandpas are Grandpa, though GS does not yet call them by name, so we shall see what happens. My mom was Nana and became GrandNana when her great-grandchildren arrived. @VaBluebird, I think Nana must be pretty easy to say. It was one of GS’s first words - Dada, Mama, more, Nana.
D, SIL, and GS will fly to be with SIL’s family for Christmas this year. I am going to miss them, but I have the privilege of seeing them all the time, so I am happy for SIL’s family. SIL’s mom is very kind and thanks me often for all I do for D, SIL, and GS. Her other grandchildren are near her and I am happy about that.
Every time I am around GD, I am saying GD’s name, and looking right at her, “Mama, mama, mama; nana, nana, nana” so determined to be right up there in her knowing me by my chosen GP name. My H wants to be known as grandpa.
SIL’s parents are going to their apt for the 5 days or so around C-mas. DD works as a nurse Mon/Tues 12 hour shifts, but will have the weekend with them. We will spend a day with them all during that time. Will have other time later.
Fun and exciting times!
@hrh19: I agree about the OB’s office management. Nevertheless, I’m just pleased that DIL found someone to take her as a patient when she’s arriving to him at something like 32 weeks pregnant. I believe this OB is also her mother’s OB, which I find a little odd, but her mother was apparently able to convince him to take her on as a patient. She’s young, healthy, and so far everything in the pregnancy seems to be unremarkable, so it is what it is.
I"m just happy my grandchild won’t be born in North Dakota. Yeah, they have doctors and hospitals there, but from where I live, it takes an entire day to get there!