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Grandparenting

what to be called?

(24 Posts)
goose1964 Mon 07-Nov-11 10:48:57

I am due to become a grandmother for the first time in Jan. I am only 47 & (sorry) don't really want to be called granny or nana or anything like this because I feel too young, I asked my daughter if the baby could just call me by my name & she said no - any other ideas what I could be called?

Carol Mon 07-Nov-11 11:19:23

When this precious bundle arrives, what you are called fades into insignificance. I don't care what they call me, as long as they call me. I'm proud to be called nannie or nana, and my heart melts every time one of my little grandsons, aged 3, says ' you're MY nana!'

nanapug Mon 07-Nov-11 11:21:12

Not sure I truly understand where you are coming from *goose". You can't get away from the fact that even though you are young you are to become a grandmother. I presume you had your daughter when you were young but that you were happy to be called Mummy or Mum. Take pride in the name, and enjoy the fact that inevitably people will say "you look far to young to be a grandmother". In ten years time you won't be able to change what this child calls you and you may well feel disappointed then. Being a grandmother is a most amazing thing, and I personally am delighted to have that title. Congratulations by the way and welcome to the club smile

bagitha Mon 07-Nov-11 11:40:01

My GS calls all his grandparents by their first names because his parents do too. What has it got to do with age? Why not refer to yourself as GrannyGoose, or whatever you want to be called and see what happens? It'll be a year or two anyway before s/he calls you anything. Enjoy smile!

absentgrana Mon 07-Nov-11 11:44:04

My daughter asked me what I wanted to be called when she was pregnant for the first time. Apart from a number of facetious suggestions, which she instantly dismissed, I said I was happy to be called any grandmotherly name, but didn't really like nanny or nana. We settled on grandma as traditional. The grandchildren, however, had their own ideas and I am Grana to all of them. That's fine with me and, obviously, fine with them. smile

susiecb Mon 07-Nov-11 12:15:35

I'm with you goose I didnt want a name preferring to be Sue but we settled on Nanna Sue as the paternal grandmother bagged Grandma as she likes it (she's over 70) and I did not want Grannie. I think we have to have some name or other for the chils sake really they find comfort in their grannies. My grandfather was known as Puppa which we all loved but the grannies were all nanna so thats me Nanna Sue like my grandmother was. My husband hates being called Grandpa Peter but our little 7 year old GS loves calling him that he says its cosy.

glammanana Mon 07-Nov-11 12:26:40

My DGCs all call me nana and my DH gets called papa or on certain occassions he get's called Captain as he is the double of Captain Birdseye,my DCs all called my mum grandma and my dad was called Grandy he was your typical grand dad,big tummy big smile and big cuddly arm's that could rock any fractious baby to sleep in minute's.I love being called nana and have even been known to turn around when I hear the name being called by an unrelated child.

jingle Mon 07-Nov-11 12:54:38

Yeah, it's funny how universal these names are isn't it Glamma. smile

Mishap Mon 07-Nov-11 13:24:01

We started off as grandma and grandpa, but then one of our GC could not get his tongue round them, so we became his names for us which are Mama and Papa.

harrigran Mon 07-Nov-11 13:28:29

I am grandma but when GD2 first spoke she called me Gaga. However they say it I am still proud to be Grandma.

tanith Mon 07-Nov-11 13:48:47

I've always been Nanny to my 7 grandchildren although the oldest 2 boys 21 &24 now have a habit of calling me Granma its all fine with me whatever they want to call me as long as we all love each other it matters not a jot what they call me.
I don't get why anyone would worry what their wonderful grandchildren call them just be happy they are in your lives .

Greatnan Mon 07-Nov-11 15:10:06

I became a grandmother at 42, when I was working in Monaco, but I was still very happy to be Nana. My boyfriend thought it was hilarious and delighted in introducing me to people as 'my glamorous granny'. My daughters also became grandmothers at 42 and 43 and they are Nana now, so I am Nanny Noo. One of my great-grand-daughters has two grandmothers, one grandfather, and two great grandmothers, so she calls us Nana Elaine, Nana Sandra, etc.

My daughter's second husband is eight years younger than her, so he became a step-grandad at 34 and is called Grampa, which he likes.

maxgran Mon 07-Nov-11 15:25:48

I became a Granny at 43,.. and was thrilled to be called Granny. Its not an age thing - its an absolute privelege to be called Granny- anytime !

GoldenGran Mon 07-Nov-11 15:35:28

You'll l;ove being a Granny when the baby arrives. As she or he get older, you will know what you want her/him to call you. I'm Granny and proud of it, but my GD called me Danny for a while. It will all slot into place, and how lucky to have such a young Grandma.smile

NannaAnna Mon 07-Nov-11 19:17:26

I went with Nanna, simply because my name is Anna, so it was a no brainer really. Means it almost sounds like my name, which is great as far as I'm concerned smile

goose1964 Tue 08-Nov-11 08:17:24

not saying I'm not looking forward to it but thought it would be a few more years before I became a gran - although my daughter's OH's mum is only 40 (ouch). My son calls me grandma now all the time & he's mad uncle. My friend's mum & dad are nain & taid (pronounce nine & tide) but wonder if that would be too odd in England (they're welsh & so am i )

kittylester Tue 08-Nov-11 08:24:11

NannaAnna my Mum wanted to be called Nanna but my eldest son could only manage Anna so it stuck and now all her grandchildren call her Anna which is confusing for people who don't know, as her name is Alice but her nickname is Babs. It's no wonder she is confused now! smile

When our eldest grandchild was born, our daughter was keen for her Dad to be called Grandpa as she had a really lovely relationship with hers. It followed that I should be Grandma (which I hate) Luckily the little one called us Ma and Pa which I really like and is used by them all now smile

Greatnan Tue 08-Nov-11 10:10:34

If Grandma is good enough for the queen....................

tanith Tue 08-Nov-11 12:06:00

I have an american friend whose grandchildren call her Granners..I quite like it..

silverfoxygran Tue 08-Nov-11 13:10:04

My mum was grandma but the children soon abbreviated that to Gram. I'm nana 'cos that's what I had -2 lovely nanas - and if they loved me as much as I love my GC then I was richly blessed.

yogagran Tue 08-Nov-11 13:47:44

I agree with maxgran. I am Granny to all my GC. My Mum was Granny to my children and I have very happy memories of my own Granny. So to me it has lovely memories.
You could always do a Google search for other European names or South African names for Grandmother

em Tue 08-Nov-11 14:02:58

I was lucky enough to know both my grandmothers. The quiet little old lady was Granny while the outgoing one who organised parties and took us to the theatre was Gran. I'm glad to be Gran! I did love the short phase when the GCs called us Ga and Gaga!

bagitha Tue 08-Nov-11 14:16:50

goose, everyone knows the Welsh are odd so it won't be a problem wink! I have a Welsh name that even Welsh people can't pronounce hmm!

goose1964 Wed 09-Nov-11 08:22:01

thanks for your help -I think I'll see if Nain is acceptable to DD