Gransnet forums

Grandparenting

What to be called

(130 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?

MissAdventure Thu 29-Aug-19 19:01:24

No, but then families have all sorts of names for grans and grandads.
Grandmum sounds cuddly.

Gonegirl Thu 29-Aug-19 19:09:53

It's awful. 'Granny' is the best.

Gonegirl Thu 29-Aug-19 19:10:32

Perhaps she is hoping that the child will shorten it to mum.

MissAdventure Thu 29-Aug-19 19:11:29

Whatever the family wants is best.
Sod all to do with anyone else.

Probably the children will come up with their own name anyway.

blue60 Thu 29-Aug-19 19:15:01

I agree with you Gonegirl, I was quite taken aback. She dotes on her children - nothing wrong with that - but I did find myself wondering if she wanted to be a mum to babies again.

Hey ho, whatever floats your boat!

Sara65 Thu 29-Aug-19 19:19:18

I agree Gonegirl, granny is best, unfortunately my oldest granddaughter had her own ideas, and the next five just carried it on.

blue60 Thu 29-Aug-19 19:25:17

ha ha Sarah65, my nieces call me by a name they made up and it has stuck!

I find it quite amusing and wonder what my great nephew will call me when he starts talking!

Grannybags Thu 29-Aug-19 19:37:43

I agree Granny is best!

Lisalou Thu 29-Aug-19 19:44:16

Whatever you choose, the children end up making their own versions. My parents were to be Granny and Grandpa, and my eldest, incapable of pronouncing these said "Ganny and Bampa" - needless to say they stuck! On my husband's side - his parents were to be the same - ended up as Gragry and Poppy!

Granarchist Thu 29-Aug-19 19:50:30

nicknames work for me - Fluffy from one set of DGs, Fifi another and Bumpa for the third.

Callistemon Thu 29-Aug-19 19:53:31

Well, it's just the female equivalent of Grandad which seems acceptable and fairly universal.

I don't like it much but each to their own.
I wanted to be Granny but DD said it would make me sound old.
I am old grin

MissAdventure Thu 29-Aug-19 20:00:35

I don't like gran.
I'm too much of a dolly bird to be called that! grin

paddyann Thu 29-Aug-19 20:13:03

I'm granny to 3 an daftgranny to the oldest GC ,new baby expected within days I dare say she'll call me what she wants to

KatyK Fri 30-Aug-19 09:56:45

I'm nan. When I think of granny, I think of a real old lady sitting knitting (sorry grannies). I was only 50 when I became a nan. I wasn't ready for granny .

Shinyredcar Fri 30-Aug-19 10:06:27

Granny would have been first choice, but the other grandmother was already Granny to many other GCs. So I became Grandma, just as one of my own had been, and I said I would accept whatever DGS eventually called me for himself. Grandma has stuck, despite occasional other experiments. Never had any Nans/Nannas/Nannies in my family.

Gonegirl Fri 30-Aug-19 10:08:23

This is a nanny grin

Gonegirl Fri 30-Aug-19 10:09:36

sorry for grin there. meant to put a wink

GagaJo Fri 30-Aug-19 10:17:32

I was determined to be Granny. Both of my grannies were, Granny. Although my daughter called my mother Nanny, which I hated. Grandson's other grandmother is Nanny and is happy with it.

Anyway, grandson had different ideas. I'm Gaga. Which I think is VERY fitting really and love it because he came up with it.

It melts my heart, when he stands at the bottom of the stairs and yells 'Gaga' up at me. He's 16 months old. It's ADORABLE.

jaylucy Fri 30-Aug-19 10:18:03

What's wrong with Grandmum? Why would you think that she wants to actually be her Gc's mother????
The grandchildren will call her whatever they want to anyway - my father was called "Pappy" by his GC ( apparently it's from Northants) and his GGC called him Peepa ! ( she couldn't say Pappy!)
Gonegirl, I object to your patronising post about Nannies.
My much loved grandmother was always known as Nanny and later as Nan - what is wrong with that ???

henetha Fri 30-Aug-19 10:19:20

Each to his own. Personally I love being Nan to my grandchildren.

MiniMoon Fri 30-Aug-19 10:22:02

I'm Granny to two of my grandchildren, and Dandy to the other two. My DH is Grandpa to two, and Dampa to the other two.
They call us Dandy and Dampa as they both have a speech difficulty, and are attending speech therapy.

Esspee Fri 30-Aug-19 10:25:42

Never understood why a grandmother would want to be referred to as the paid help.

kittylester Fri 30-Aug-19 10:27:38

I hated the thought of being a granny or a nanny and DD1 (mother of our first gfandchild) wanted us to be grandma and grandpa. I hated that idea too but accepted it reluctantly. Dgd2 had other ideas and called us Ma and Pa, which we both love.

My mum had the first name Alice but was usually called Babs. The intention was to call her nana but DS1 mangled it and called her Anna. All very confusing if you weren't in the know!

KatyK Fri 30-Aug-19 10:43:12

I know lots of nans but no grannies, I've only heard this on TV and on here. Granny always sounds 'posh' which we're not round here smile