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Original poster

Help - what to call the grandparents?!!

43 replies

Jen99 · 07/04/2008 20:22

Our DS is 13 weeks old and we are having a dilemma deciding what to call the three sets of grandparents we have and it is all a bit delicate!

My parents are still together and are called nanny and grandad - the same as my sisters DCs call them.

DPs mum and dad have both remarried however his dad's wife has been around for a lot longer than they have been married! So consequently relations are somewhat strained between his parents - in fact they have nothing to do with each other. DPs mum also wants to be nanny and has started calling her DH 'pops' DPs dad has asked what him and his wife are to be called and we are really at a loss as we don't feel that his wife should be called anything other than her name. However his dad will not be happy if he finds out that his mum's husband has a 'special' name.

I know this all sounds rather childish but we don't want to upset anyone. It feels like there is a lot of pressure on us over this as DS is the first grandchild.

Anyone got any suggestions on how to deal with this?

OP posts:
Jackstini · 07/04/2008 20:25

I just asked them all what they wanted to be called - much easier.
We have Nanny, Grandad (dj's parents - separated), Gran & John (my Mum remarried & Grandad & Hazel (My Dad remarried).

SpecialOffer · 07/04/2008 20:28

We asked as well.

Nanny and Grumps
Grandma and Grandpa

You can always use Grandma twice if people want to. I had a Grandma Maggie and Grandma Sue!

RubySlippers · 07/04/2008 20:30

DS has a nana and grandpa

grandma and grandpa

grandma and (soon to be) another grandpa!

i would ask them what they woudl like to be called

MerlinsBeard · 07/04/2008 20:38

i asked

my mum is granny

MIL is Nanna and FIL is grandad

my dad (divorced from my mum) is Grandad and his name

Dads girlf will never be seen so thats not an issue!

If my mum had a boyfriend (that sounds wrong...manfriend!) he would have his own name i think

Hulababy · 07/04/2008 20:41

DD has:

my parents - nana and grandad
PILs - nana and grandad
my grandma - grandma
my nana and grandad - grandma and grandad
DH's grandad - grandad great (his wife was grandma great)

Julezboo · 07/04/2008 20:42

My DS's call theirs

Grandad (name) (all three of them!)

they call my mum big nanny (because shes tall not large )

They call DP's mum nanny (name)
they call my dads girlf by her first name and my mums husband Grandad dave.

but its the same with me, my grandad has remarried, hes still my grandad, shes just her name. But i see her as my nan and shes nicer than my nan

Original poster
Jen99 · 07/04/2008 20:43

We have asked DPs dad and he said 'i don't really mind' which of course is no help to us. The real issue here is that DPs dad wants them to be nanny and grandad or something along those lines when we feel that is is not appropriate for her to be called this. Any suggestions for anything other than the usual gran, grandma nanny etc. there seems to be lots of alternatives for grandad such as grumps but can't think of anything else for her

Could probably come up with some suggestions myself but don't think they would go down too well

OP posts:
margosbeenplayingwithmynoonoo · 07/04/2008 20:48

I reckon your children will come up with something once they get old enough.

My MIL is called Judy but DD1 calls her Nanny Gudy and it's stuck!

shelleylou · 07/04/2008 21:03

My mum and dad are grandma and grandad, ex's mum is nanny ex's dad is grandad xxxxx and his wife is nanny xxx although in cards etc its usually xxx. They all had there own preferences so are all refered to as that

Waswondering · 07/04/2008 21:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

KatyMac · 07/04/2008 21:09

Gram?
Auntie Name?
Petal?
SG? (for step gran)
Sgran?

All names I have heard for that relationship

WanderingTrolley · 07/04/2008 21:14

Can you have the step grandparent noted by being NannyJoan, and the real grandparents not having a Christian name in their title?

Or can they be Auntie/Uncle?

Is anyone from another country, that has another word for granny?

WanderingTrolley · 07/04/2008 21:15

Grandmother & Grandfather
Oma & Opa (German)
Grand-mere & Grand-pere (French)
Gigia & Papous (Greek)
Nonna & Nonno (Italian)
Nagyanya & Nagyapa (Hungarian)
Babcia & Dziadzia (Polish)
Babushka & Dedushka (Russian)
Seanathair & Daideo (Irish)
Nainai & YeYe (Chinese)
Oba-chan & Oji-chan (Chinese)
Halmoni & Halaboji (Korean)
Grootmeider & Grootvader (Dutch)
Abuela & Abuelo (Spanish)
Bestefar & Bestemor (Norwegian)
Tutu-wahini & Tutu-kane (Hawaiian)

Califrau · 07/04/2008 21:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

zippitippitoes · 07/04/2008 21:16

not read the op rofl

but i am a grandma

an d i picked my name
and i am grandm a

Califrau · 07/04/2008 21:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ElfOnTheTopShelf · 07/04/2008 21:19

My parents = Mamar and PopPops
His Dad & Step Mum = Grandpa and Nana
His Mum & Step Dad = Granddad and Nanna

tryingtocookacurry · 07/04/2008 21:23

my mum and dad = granny and grampy
my granny = nana
my mil and partner = nanny and his name
my fil and his wife = babamp and her name

lizziemun · 07/04/2008 21:39

DD1 has the following

Nana around the courner (my Mum).
Nana and Grandad (dh parents)
Grandad without a nana (my dad for some reason she doesn't acknowledge my stepmum ).
And grandad in a wheelchair (my grandad)

AbbeyA · 07/04/2008 21:45

We just asked the grandparents what they wanted to be called.I hope that when I get to that stage I can choose.

dilbertina · 07/04/2008 21:57

Hmmmm yes, I asked my mum and she went for "Grandmama" - FFS.

So I ignored that (couldn't say it with straight face!). She is Grandma.

I do worry she lives in some weird fantasy land much of the time....

Wags · 07/04/2008 22:03

My DC have my parents who are Grandma and Grandad. DH's parents are divorced. His Mum is called Granny Clip-Clop (she used to have a horse!) and his Dad and new wife are Gramps and Granny. I think it depends on what sort of role you see your DP's Dad and wife playing. If his wife is going to play a Grandparent role then I think she should be named accordingly. In our case DH's Step Mum treats our DC exactly the same as she does her own Grandchildren. I couldn't have imagined them calling her anything that wasn't on the Grandparent lines.

pinkspottywellies · 07/04/2008 22:08

I had similar problems although my parents and thier new spouses get on fine which I guess made it easier. My DH's Nanny had to be Great-Nanny. Mil chose Nan (which I don't like personally!) and Fil kept saying 'they'll come up with thier own names for us'. Er no, we have to call you something first for them to try and say it and give you a nickname!!

I wanted my stepdad to have a 'special' name but my mum and sister didn't although I think this was more about my stepmum not being called anything, rather than him, but my dad and stepmum were already assuming that she would be Granny, as he is Grandad to her grandchildren.

Then when dd was about a year old and we were used to just calling my stepdad by his name, mum and sis decide that he should have a special name

Bloody families!!

I know some people who call the stepgrandparents Grand ie GrandBob or GrandLesley. Worth a try? Good luck sorting it out.

chocyholic · 07/04/2008 23:42

Naini & Daidi (Welsh) (pronounced Niyn-nee & Die-dee)or Nain & Daid for short

BarcodeZebra · 07/04/2008 23:48

My mum = GrandMary (but she chose it herself - blergh!)
My Dad = Grandpa John

DW's Mum = Grannie Anne
DW's Dad = Grandpa Bill

Easy