I don’t know what it is about Baby Boomers, but for some reason we don’t like to be called Grandpa or Grandma when we finally become grandparents.
I have to smile when my friends tell me what their new grandchildren will call them. My favorites so far are “G” and “Grand-dude” and “Pa-Pa-Boo” (you know who you are).
Well, now that I am going to be a grandmother for the first time come February(!), I get it. My husband and I have decided our grandchildren will call us Papa and Mia.
But I promise, if this first grandbaby wants to call me Grandma, I’ll take that, too!
*Update as of December 2018 … my almost 2-year-old grandson is here for Christmas. And he can’t yet say the “me” combo, so I am “Mo” instead of Mia. I’ll take it! “Mo” it is!
What about you? What do your children call their grandparents? Or if you’re a grandparent, let me know what your grandchildren call you, and why!
31 Responses
Grammie Joy. Joy is my middle name. When my first grandchild came, she still had all 4 great-grandmothers and both grandmothers, six people who were legitimately entitled to be called grandma.
I love the name Grammie Joy!
Judy,
This question has been on my mind, too, as my adult children marry and talk about starting their families. I have a gorgeous friend in Colorado Springs who prefers to be called Glamma. 🙂 I’ve spent time looking up Gaelic, Hebrew, Russian, even Indian names for grandmother and imagined my grandchildren calling me those names. None has stuck yet. Good thing I still have some time. I’m laughing as I write that. It does sound silly. What’s so bad about Grandma?? Much love to you and huge congratulations on the news of a grandchild. God has blessed you and your family. I’m happy He has done so. Love you.
Marshele – SO fun to hear from you! And yes, I could see you as a Glamma like your friend, who I have a feeling I may know 😉 Miss you!
We decided to let the kids name us…or let it be a natural thing. Until that happened, I was Gramma Betsy and Mark was Grandpa.
As our first little granddaughter got older, to help differentiate between the two sets of grandparents, I became “Grandma Kitty” (that is the Grandma with the kitty at her home) and Mark became “Papa Cow” (the one who held her as she looked at cows on a recent trip).
I LOVE GRAMMA KITTY AND PAPA COW!
Betsy – Oh, what a fun story! I love the names Gramma Kitty and Papa Cow, too!
It is such an honor and a gift to be a grand-parent!
We belong to a family where there is only one person deemed “Grandma!” That name was taken years ago. Anyone following after her chooses a different endearing grand-parent title. There is Mee-Maa, Gigi, Grams, Nana,. Grammy, Granny, Gamma, Mimi! As far as for me, my name was given to me by my oldest step-daughter when our first grandchild was born, I was told “Mama C” fit me. Hence, my name is now uttered out of the mouths of babes as either just “C” or Mama C.
Not such a “Baby Boomer” desire to cling to staying younger, but in our family more of a fun thing that got started years ago. it’s become a tradition, and the many grandchildren that have come along since its beginnings don’t ever seem to get confused by all the many name changes.
For the men there is a Grandpa, Grand-Dad, Gramps, Pops, and Pop Po. As for my husband he chose for himself a two-part name, one being his childhood nick-name which is “Boo” and Papa after his favorite Grandfather. Papa Boo is now wonderfully shouted as he is greeted by our grandchildren, and the sweetest thing heard from their mouths over the phone.
Proud to be of that age to be a Grandpa and Grandma, Papa Boo & Mama C Rings 🙂
Love this, Mama C!
We started with Grandma and Grandpa and then as Ellie started talking we became Gma and Bapa.
You are a great Gma and Bapa!
It’s Mimi for me, Papa for my husband. I think we liked something easy to say and warm and intimate. My mom wanted Grandmother and it seemed so formal and hard for little ones to say.
I can tell you love being a Mimi by the photos on Facebook with your new grandbabies!
Ok Judy, Jan and I are Babu and Zedo. That what I called my grandparents who were from Czechoslovakia.
So fun! And I’m sure you are the best Babu and Zedo there ever was!
Congrats! Bob and I are Pops and Mia! Nothing as cute as “Mia” coming out of a 2-year old 🙂
Good to know since that what I hope to be called, Stephanie!
I want to be called Nana because my name is Anna #soundslike 🙂 Funny how we talk about it! The kids are married but no babies yet. My son and his wife are going to be missionaries in East Asia so I’ve considered Grandmama and Grandaddy in mandarin (Nai Nai and Ye Ye)! Great and fun conversation for us Gmama’s to be to talk about! #cantwait
Anna – I get #cantwait and it will be here before you know it!
We called our grandmother memaw in Texas. Some are called nana. I was grandma Morgan for awhile. They thought it was fun , because I was “Morgan “. Then it was grandma. I like that. Just good old grandma. My mom was called gran.
Whatever you or your grandchild starts calling you, you’ll love it, because of the special meaning. (When mine were little they said gma, because they couldn’t say the whole name. I’m so excited for you. You will be awesome, fun, and a blessing to your grandchild
Hugs and much love
Thank you, Susan! So sweet to hear how you landed on Grandma!
“God sets the lonely in families.” Psalm 68:6 Many years ago, while I was a single mother, my daughter and her best friend dreamed of becoming sisters. Having lost her mother at a young age, Lacey longed for a mother figure in her life and began calling me “Momma.” When the girls began high school, Lacey moved in with us full-time. Years later, Lacey asked me to be there for the birth of her son, Ayden. I was there for the full labor and even went into the operating room for the c-section. Being an “honorary Momma and Nana” was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. Just before Ayden turned one, Lacey asked me to legally adopt her. I don’t remember exactly how I responded, only that there were many tears and hugs. She had always been my daughter, but now it would be official. “A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul.” Proverbs 13:19. We signed the paperwork last summer. I recently returned from Lacey’s second birth in which we welcomed my first granddaughter, Arya. Becoming a Nana, not only brought me grandchildren, but also my daughter. And for that, I will always praise God.
Thank you for sharing such a beautiful story, Michelle, aka Nana!
OH, and HOW could I forget to mention my last trip. A couple weeks after Lacey gave birth to Arya, I went out for several days to help Lacey recover. Ayden, just under two years old, recognized me for the first time. Within the first 20 minutes of my arrival, I heard his precious voice call my name at least 50 times, “Nana! Nana! Wa!” (aka: Watch!) If a heart is able to stop beating momentarily for the sake of love, this did it for me. I was GONE. Completely in love. No turning back. Committed.
How about Juliana? Or JuJu for short??!! ??
Funny. You!
What did you decide. I like JuJu
I was going to be Mia … but he coukdn’t say that so he calls me MoMo.
Congratulations! I can hear your joy!
My mom was Grandma to my kids. My grandma was Grandma to me. Their names were always spoken with love. So when it came time to be a grandma, the only name I wanted was Grandma.
An unforgettable moment was when my then 2 year old granddaughter saw me through a crowd of people and came running, calling “Grandma!” She knows I love her. (She doesn’t know how much though. She’s not a grandma yet.)
I guess it doesn’t really matter what my grandkids call me; as long as they know that Grandma means love.
Becky – I love what you’ve shared. Thanks for visiting!
Congratulations! A new life chapter with new joyful experiences. My daughters called my mother ‘Marmee’. I am not sure how this reference to Louisa May Alcott’s, Little Women, started but it stuck. I found it interesting to discover ‘Marmee’ is a Greek baby name which means ‘shining’. Unfortunately, my daughters had too few years with their Marmee. When I think of my mom, ‘shining’ suits her well.
P. S. I love the pic with this blog.
Blessings, Krista
Thank you, Krista!