I want to be called Nonna but….

[Moira1951]

I’ve been told Nonna is unacceptable by my son as they want my first ever grandchild (at 73) to call me granny. I don’t want to be called granny, do I have a choice as to what I’d like to be known as?

You can be called WHAT YOU want ! Nonna sounds cool

I’m going against the grain here and saying it’s entirely up to you what you want to be called.

i know loads of people that don’t want to be called Granny /Grandma and that’s entirely their prerogative. Who’s got the right to decide what anyone’s called?!

We asked our parents how they would like to be known; one said they’d like to be known as Granny and the other said she would like to be known as Nanny. I’ve found that children will create their own names for you though; at the moment my dad is known by my 10 month old daughter as “Nandad” (which actually delights him no end 😂 and he’s taken it on happily!).

It’s your name why wouldn’t you get to choose?

When my children were born my mother wanted to be called “Grandmop” and I refused! In the end they didn’t call her anything and we hardly ever saw her anyway. I asked my grandchildren to call me Nana because that was what I called my mother’s mother and I liked it. They did when they were little but now they call me by my name, which is ok with me.

I'm "Nanny" to my grandchildren with my first name after it, to differentiate me from the "Nanny" on my DIL's side. This is what my maternal grandmother was always called and I prefer it. My paternal grandmother, who was always difficult, was called "Granny" and I would never want to be called that.
I agree you should be called what you like, but personally would not think Nonna was right for an English grandmother with no Italian connections.

That’s unbelievably controlling! Do you rename your kid’s friends if you don’t find their names ‘acceptable’?

”Listen up, Noah. From now on you’ll be known as ‘Frank’ or ‘Aloysius’ because those are the names that are acceptable to us”.

Stark, raving bonkers. Your MIL should be the only person who gets to decide what she wants to be called.

Absolutely agree. It's 100% controlling, and arrogant - and super bossy. This wouldn't be an issue in my family thankfully, as my adult DC would NEVER behave like this. They have more respect for me. Imagine saying to your mother 'you will be nana, and if you don't like it you can fuck right off.' Wow. Just WOW. What a way to treat your mother.

I asked the grandparents what they wanted to be called. It makes them feel a part of the situation without allowing them too much control. Each family is different, and some parents like to keep all of that control. Let them have their moment, and maybe bring it up again once the baby is here 🙂

It’s quite bizarre to want to be called Nonna with no Italian heritage or culture.
perhaps make another suggestion.
but….ultimately why be offended by “granny”….definitely not worth creating friction over.

Wow some people are too judging .. I am Nonna.. not a pretentious choice ..no Italian blood directly but its a nice sounding word and I like the association of the word .. and no I did not want to be callled granny or nanny and yes it was my choice but if anybody objected I would have had a rethink..but no body even questioned it..and everybody calls me that happily.. especially the children ..and so that's what I am - Nonna ! .. so really it's the strangest thing for people to get upset about -unless there's conflict with other grandmothers names what on earth is the issue ? The issue has to be with your son and probably his wife .. honestly some folks ..

I really think this is your choice. In our family most of the matriarchs are called Mommo but I asked my mum if she wanted to be this first. My grandfather never wanted to be called anything like that so he was PB. You're the person carrying the name so it has to be your decision.

This. ^ Hilariously it only seems to be non-Italian people who are ridiculing the OP for it, and saying it's 'cultural appropriation.'

'Cultural appropriation' to want to be called Nonna as a grandmother!!! 😂

Re read OP later comments ..there are other issues clearly here ..

Why does it matter so much as long as they love you and you them?

technically you can be a granny/grandma in your 30 s so saying you don’t feel like a granny is a bit rude to other grannies!

When my first grandchild was on the way I wanted to be called Nanna. My daughter and son in law agreed. My granddaughter has always called me Nanny - as do the six other grandchildren that came after her. You and your son may have no say anyway. I called my Nan Lella because I couldn't say Nanna and it stuck so you may even get a made up name!

If you're not Italian it would be weird to call you Nonna. Nanna would be more appropriate

You don’t really have the final say. In reality, your son will refer to you as granny, so that’s what your grandchild will call you what ever you say!

You might think so. I don’t. I think it’s really common.

As you have no Italian connections it sounds utterly pretentious and ridiculous.

Surely what the child is called is up to the parents, but they don't get to decide how you're addressed? I'm a nanna, definitely didn't want nanny, as no one pays me to look after the grandkids, I am not a nanny, or granny or grandma and that's my choice.

DS and his half-Italian wife are expecting. They are letting me call myself what I want, and I am going to be Nana (Nan). I just assumed it was up to me what I was called but I would never expect to be Nonna as that’s Italian and that’ll be son’s Italian MIL. Just like I would never be a Nain, like my Welsh great grandmother as that is a Welsh grandmother

I don’t understand the big deal.l if I’m honest. Why is your son so against it? Personally wouldn’t bother me if my parents had a particular name they wanted my child to call them but there you are.

Why do you have to be Italian? nonna is used in parts of the U.K.

Exactly!