June has three grandmothers: My mother, Jake’s mother and my stepmother. They all want to be called something different. My mother has requested the moniker “Nanna,” Jake’s mom answers to “Marmi.” Only my stepmother is willing to make due with the classic “Grandma. ” When I try to explain the differences to Jake, he just rolls his eyes and says he refuses to ID his mother as “Marmi” in the presence of his child. I’m more willing to play along because I think it’s kind of cute, I’m not sure why the biological Nanna/Marmis need a snazzy new name, but I think it has something to do with “grandma’s” more senior connotations.
Then again, “Nanna” doesn’t exactly bring to mind a youthful, Hannah Montana-wearing gal about town, but what do I know?
All original content © 2012 by Jessie Knadler
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I had two grandmas. Both were called Grandma, and as my sister and I got older, they were identified by their homes (color of their houses and the type of house or by their last name). We had no trouble with it.
However, when my sister’s kids were born, the same situation happened. There were three grandparents, and one great-grandma, and they all had to have different names. I still can’t differentiate between them by name. Thankfully, the kids never cared if I just called them Grandma (by last name or descriptor).
It always worked fine.
I think that your daughter will be fine either way
We have:
“Nana” (my grandmother), “Ga” (my grandfather who passed a while ago), “Mimi/Papa” (my parents), “Funny Grandma/Funny Grandpa” (my husband’s parents), “Grandma with the white hair” (my husband’s grandmother), “Grandma with the piano” (my husband’s grandmother who passed in 2005). OY!
Oh I know the feeling – My kids have a Mimi, Nana, G-ma, Mem and a Gramma.
( Mem and Gramma are actually their great grandmothers) but still – they all have a different name – and my son chose those names for them. They (all the grandmothers) love having their own name and there is no confusion over who is who. =) Enjoy.