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Grandparenting

What to be called

(131 Posts)
blue60 Thu 29-Aug-19 18:59:13

An aquaintance of mine is to be a new grandmother next year.

I congratualted her, and we got talking about what she will be called by her grandchild. 'Grandmum' she said.

I haven't heard of that one before. Anyone else heard of or are called by this name?

Kirstyfiona Sat 31-Aug-19 12:37:02

Not sure it really matters what I’m called, just grateful to have some lovely grandchildren!

Mossfarr Sat 31-Aug-19 12:37:36

I really didn't want to be called Granny - definitely conjures up old ladies in wing backed chairs tucked up with crocheted blankets LOL.
I'm Nana to my three GC. I don't like that much either but I couldn't think what else to be called.
My Mum is Gran to her four GGC.

seeker4life Sat 31-Aug-19 12:38:26

I grew up in Wales and it was 'Nain' and 'Taid', and my children called my parents the same, even though we lived in England. And now I am called Nain Ellen by my English grandchildren. Interestingly, when I grew up, we called each by their surname - Nain Jones and Taid Evans etc. Now I am called by my first name, which I like. Times have changed.

Butweam1952 Sat 31-Aug-19 12:42:12

I am Nanny to mine and that gets shorten to Nan by the older ones. I have always loved it. Mind you my two youngest grandchildren live in the USA and when the 4 year old was complemented on a toy he had by a friend and said my nanny gave it to me, my daughter-law said his friends parents all thought he had a traditional English live in Nanny ? xx

Maggiemaybe Sat 31-Aug-19 12:46:38

I'm plain Nanna to two of the boys, NannaMaggie to the other two. Though I have noticed NannaNaggie creeping in recently. Totally by accident, of course. grin

FarawayGran Sat 31-Aug-19 12:52:38

The other grandmother picked Granny first. She then said, 'You can be Granny as well' I am Nana.

Lancslass1 Sat 31-Aug-19 12:53:10

I am Granny.
By far my favourite.
Grandma reminds me of that dreadful song “Grandma we love you” sung by a school choir.
My mother couldn’t decide what she wanted to be called.
My son decided for her.
He called he Gan gan as did her other grandchildren after that.
My father,a.Londoner called everyone “mate “ so again my son called him “mate”too.
The other grandchildren did the same when they came along.

Marilla Sat 31-Aug-19 12:54:14

I wanted to be Grannie, but it just happened that I was called Nannie from day one. I don’t mind at all. I think us grannies are just so lucky to be loved unconditionally by our grandchildren that in the end it doesn’t really matter what our title is.

Maremia Sat 31-Aug-19 13:01:29

My grandchildren were lucky enough to have the 'full set', so the two couples had to decide what each one would like to be called. The In-Laws chose Gran and Grandad, and we went with Grandma and Grandpa.

pookem Sat 31-Aug-19 13:06:56

Our grandies call us Farby and Nanma and we love it.

Witchypoo Sat 31-Aug-19 13:26:40

My son told me i would be known as granny. Dont see the DGC so it has never been used as a name. Granddad died before he had seen DGC2. His name was never used. Happy being called by my christian name by a family that has adopted me as i was alone all the time.

wicklowwinnie Sat 31-Aug-19 13:28:46

When my sister-in-law referred to my mother as " Nanny" my mother responded with ' I'm neither a children's nurse nor a goat'. I am Granny!!!

Nansypansy Sat 31-Aug-19 13:43:57

When my first GD was born, I was asked what I wanted to be called ..... off the top of my hand - goodness knows why - I said “Nansy” ...... and it stuck for all of them! One of them also added “pansy” hence my gransnet name!!!

Bluefairy111 Sat 31-Aug-19 13:57:24

I’m known as Glammie! It’s short for Glamorous Grandma! Unfortunately it’s getting more and more difficult to live up to ? When our first grandchild was born there was already a “Grandma” and I didn’t want to be called Nan hence Glammie. Our youngest is now 5 years old and on a recent holiday called me “The Glamster”!

maryhoffman37 Sat 31-Aug-19 14:01:42

I am Nonna to my five, but the family of three call their other grandmother Grandmum, which seems fine to me.

4allweknow Sat 31-Aug-19 14:02:53

I am grandma to my 2 GC. One had a Granny for a very short while (now deceased) and I am glad I chose a different name as reference to Granny brings back special memories for GC.

Kartush Sat 31-Aug-19 14:06:15

I am grandma to my oldest grandchild (22) Granny to the next two (9 and 6) and I will be Granny to my great grandson (17 months) when he finally decides to talk

seadragon Sat 31-Aug-19 14:35:29

I remember addressing my letters to my grandma: 'Dear Grumphy'! I didn't realise it was grandad's nickname for her and my mum didn't correct me. My grandad was 'Gaga' for some reason early on. Interestingly GD called DH 'Gaga' in the early years too with no encouragement. Have never heard it anywhere else. I, myself, am Gramma!

Maggiemaybe Sat 31-Aug-19 14:50:47

My grandmother was called Mother by her children, their spouses and all her grandchildren and great grandchildren. I’ve no idea how it came about, but she was a lovely lady and nobody seemed unhappy with it.

It’d certainly be the subject of a very long thread on GN or MN these days.

Mossfarr Sat 31-Aug-19 14:56:48

when my first Grandchild was expected my (now ex) DIL asked what we wanted to be called. I couldn't think of anything I liked so it just became Nana & Grandad.

Her mother was a really pretentious old b**ch and insisted that they were to be called Grand-mama and Grand-papa.

She became estranged from them as they didn't turn up for her wedding so she referred to them as nannieMiller and grandadMiller - I'm sure it made them cringe even though they rarely spoke.
The children didn't know them really so they referred to them as 'that other nana & grandad'.

Nvella Sat 31-Aug-19 14:58:07

Don’t like Nana, Nannie, Nanny. I am grandma and love it (or Gamma). I quite fancied Sheldon Cooper’s name for his grandmother in the Big Bang Theory which was Meemaw but the family wouldn’t go for it!

Foxyfred Sat 31-Aug-19 15:00:23

I am Grandma but mostly Grams to my two grandsons.

Topcat7 Sat 31-Aug-19 15:03:07

As we have grandad why not grandmum?

Grannyrebel Sat 31-Aug-19 15:03:56

All my friends are nannas or nannies which I hate. Granny all the way I say! Still find it difficult even after 10 years to think of myself as a grandparent though!

Kittycat Sat 31-Aug-19 15:31:23

My Gd spends so much time with me that she often calls me Mama without thinking. She's almost 5 and sometimes corrects herself and says 'Sorry Nana! ' I tell her it doesn't matter what she calls me, I'm always here for her! She does the same with her Mummy, neither of us mind at all.