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Grandparenting

Naming of step grandparents

(155 Posts)
suzandy7 Mon 14-Jun-21 18:56:30

My daughter (37) insists on her stepfather being called Uncle...... (1st name) instead of 'Grandpa' which is what he really wants. My Granddaughter is 22months old.
We have been married for nearly 16 years and he has been part of our lives for nearly 20 years.
This is really breaking his heart (and mine) as he has always loved her and treated her as his own daughter. I don't want a show-down but this elephant in the room is squashing my life!
Surely he is entitled to be called what he wants not what she wants?
We think this is so her birth father doesn't get angry with the little one (or daughter) if she should refer to him as Grandpa in years to come. (He's still the same bully as ever)
We don't see them very often as they are 160 miles away.
Has anyone else had this problem and if so how did you resolve it?

Cabbie21 Wed 16-Jun-21 14:05:05

I think anything other than Uncle is fine. He is not their uncle, so that name makes for confusion.
In our extended family, we have Granny, Grandma, Grandma Cabbie, Nanny, Grandad, Grandpa, Pops, Papa, Gran, Grangran, Oma, Opa and various Christian names.

Kimski44 Wed 16-Jun-21 14:20:02

My husband is called “Grumpee” lol to my granddaughter (he is stepfather to my daughter). Hope you resolve this issue...

Pinkrinse Wed 16-Jun-21 14:31:03

It’s the child’s parents choice primarily. I’m a step parent (they lived with me for over 10 years and I’ve been their lives. For 35 years) they have never called my mum, only by my first name. When they had children they asked my what I wanted to be called and I’m Nanny Pinkrinse as the biological gp are nana (this goes back for generations) and grandma and I am not their gm. There other step gp has followed the same naming convention, which is great as it’s easy for thee children to undertake that whilst I assume a gp I’m not a gp. I wouldn’t want to be uncle in that set up but quite happy o be referrred to by my first name or another name eg gramps.

Bellocchild Wed 16-Jun-21 14:35:37

You could try the Spanish colloquial version of grandpa (ie abuelo) and let her call him 'yayo'.

Mrsthom1 Wed 16-Jun-21 14:42:27

To call him Grandad when the child is not a blood relative is wrong on so many levels.This is exactly how many families in the dark ages didn't actually know who their blood relatives were.Also the other set of Grandparents will not be happy that a unknown man comes in to their grandchild's life and suddenly becomes that child's Grandfather.Misleading and unnecessary,his Christian name should suffice.

AmberSpyglass Wed 16-Jun-21 15:21:13

Mrsthom1 what?! You realise we’re not actually living in the dark ages now, don’t you?

sharon103 Wed 16-Jun-21 15:27:03

My father in law and mother in law both divorced and re-married.
The new wife has always called by her first name and the same with the new husband, first name, by me and the grandchildren.

RosesAreRed21 Wed 16-Jun-21 15:30:50

What about adopting a name like pops or Grampy

oldmom Wed 16-Jun-21 15:53:12

I would ask for an alternative to uncle, but I would not expect a grandparent name.

However long 20 years may be for a marriage, the fact is the daughter was basically adult when stepdad became part of things. He isn't dad, he's mums husband. I'm sure that that does hurt, but it's reality. How many years did they even live in the same house?

If she doesn't see him as grandpa, then he isn't grandpa. She has the right to make that choice for her child. All you can do, OP, is choose to respond with grace and wisdom.

justme2 Wed 16-Jun-21 16:11:59

Could this be a power struggle between two elderly males, more about ego than a word? Just askin'.

Small children love to say short peppy easy words. Choose one of the many suggestions above. I knew a step grandparent who was called Pops and it gradually became his distinctive name within the whole family, both children and adults.

Caligrandma Wed 16-Jun-21 16:17:05

I can only speak for myself. Grown children are only going to do what THEY want to do. They have a sense of power when the grandkids arrive. Your children are either sympathetic or not and nothing you say will be heard. Take the visits. One day the grandkids will find out. At least you get to see them. Realizing your own offspring lack empathy is probably the bigger pill to swallow.

Caligrandma Wed 16-Jun-21 16:25:37

Actually, in the "olden" days, if your wife died you married her sister and the kids called her mother. Grandma, Grandpa are roles. If the child was adopted, then what?? The problem is unfortunately with her grown daughter. Of course Grandpa is heartbroken. But when self centered adult children start throwing around their power, now they have children, its one of the more evil aspects of their personality. This is a power play and should be treated as such. Unfortunately, consequences can be dire. Adult daughter can call her Uncle, but you as his wife can find a cute nickname for Gramps such as Bubba and when granddaughter is around you refer him as Bubba when you talk to him. The granddaughter will pick that up.

esgt1967 Wed 16-Jun-21 16:29:12

My daughter is 28 and my 2nd husband (her stepfather) has been in her life since she was 5 - we married when she was 8. She has always called him by his first name as she has a relationship with her dad and I wouldn't want her calling my husband "dad" anyway.

She has a 4 year old son who calls me Nanny and my husband is called Grandad, he may not be his biological grandad and he was quite happy to be called by his first name but, as far as I'm concerned, he is my grandson's grandad as much as I am his grandmother.

My daughter is happy with this, she is the one who said he should be called Grandad and it doesn't cause anyone any offence or distress. As others have said, it's best to go with what your daughter is happy with and, in the end, it is only a name and not really worth stressing over, the relationship is more important.

pinkym Wed 16-Jun-21 16:43:41

My daughter-in-law always called her grandparents Ma-ma and Pa-pa, (pronounced Mar-mar and Par-par) the whole family referred to them as such. I think they're lovely, affectionate names. Perhaps an alternative for OP's husband?

Hithere Wed 16-Jun-21 16:45:19

"Adult daughter can call her Uncle, but you as his wife can find a cute nickname for Gramps such as Bubba and when granddaughter is around you refer him as Bubba when you talk to him. The granddaughter will pick that up."

This is horrible advice.

Please do not go around disrespecting their parenting decisions - fast lane for family disagreements (visit cuts, uncomfortable discussions, etc)

glammagran Wed 16-Jun-21 16:53:11

DH and I have one daughter and 2 children each from previous marriages. Older 4 called step parent by their Christian names. DH has 4 GC and I have 5; youngest 2 are between us. All the GC call us Gran and Gramps regardless.

V3ra Wed 16-Jun-21 17:02:50

Sometimes children come up with a name by themselves.

My new little minded girl (2y) refers to my husband as "your grandad," as in he's the older male person in our household.

Lucca Wed 16-Jun-21 17:12:53

Has OP been back ??

I honestly think all these suggestions about picking a name which is basically a version of grandad (pops, Grammy, yayo etc) are wrong . The daughter doesn’t want it!

Just use his first name and ask nicely if you can drop the uncle bit as he isn’t !

flowerofthewestx2 Wed 16-Jun-21 18:19:31

My husband (stepfather to my/our children) has always been known as Grandpa...a title he certainly deserved.
There was no discussion, non was necessary. How ridiculous for the parents to insist on uncle. How cruel and thoughtless.
I would refer to him as grandpa until it sticks.

ElaineRI55 Wed 16-Jun-21 18:30:14

My older grandchildren call my husband Granpa John so that there's no confusion with my ex.
My daughter kindly asked my husband what he wanted her son and any future kids to call him. He opted for pappy.
There are various options that still "mean" grandpa, so why not suggest to her one that will be different to the other grandpa? Grandad, pappy, papa, gramps, pops, pawpaw, bompa, or even something made up or from another language which isn't "uncle".
At the end of the day, it's not worth creating a scene if she won't agree and risk falling out.
Your granddaughter will no doubt be close to you and your DH as she will sense who can be trusted and loves her to bits. The depth of the relationship you both have with her will not be measured by the words she is asked to use to describe you.

flowerofthewestx2 Wed 16-Jun-21 18:31:18

Mrsthom1
Are you for real?
Of course he is entitled to the title of grandpa grandad or anything else he chooses. Its not the daughters choice. She is being cruel and pathetic.
These days with extended families there may be several grandparents...and yes they are all grandparents, blood or not. As I said my daughter had both dads walk her down the isle...my ex was happy to accommodate this.
One of our grandsons has 5 granddads. All have a special granddad like name.

Ukcarolm Wed 16-Jun-21 19:01:33

My sister in law is known as Bibi instead of Nana or Grandma, maybe your hubby could do the same and choose Grandpa in another language, as uncle just doesn't seem right. Bibi is African I think for Nana. If your DH sees a name he'd like then you can ask your daughter if thats ok.
Good luck

Nannieannie69 Wed 16-Jun-21 19:08:33

Not sure the "uncle" is necessary? My husband was step-grandad to my daughter's boy who decided (of his own accord) to call him Pooh for the first twelve years of his life - no one knows why, not even him - but he now calls him grandad. His genetic grandfather is also "grandad" but there is no confusion as they are rarely together. With my son's twins I am Nanny Annie (my husband is grandad again) and daughter in law's mum is Nanny Lucy - her husband (a blood grandad to the twins) is Parla (again, no rhyme not reason). I think the children themselves will sort it out with grandad ...

GrammaGill Wed 16-Jun-21 19:14:16

I am my step-granddaughter's Gill. She has two grandmas. Well, had.

Of course it is up to your daughter what he is called. And I'm afraid it's up to her if he sees them. If she really is under her Dad's influence, at that distance there isn't a lot you can do.

Lucca Wed 16-Jun-21 19:16:00

flowerofthewestx2

My husband (stepfather to my/our children) has always been known as Grandpa...a title he certainly deserved.
There was no discussion, non was necessary. How ridiculous for the parents to insist on uncle. How cruel and thoughtless.
I would refer to him as grandpa until it sticks.

And deliberately go against parents wishes?
What a fuss being made by people old enough to know better.
OP should try for a compromise, that’s if she ever returns to the thread