Grandma Moses -how to Address a Grandmother

The cutting edge subject for today is what we shall be addressed as when we become grandparents. When I was a kid we had our Nanny on our father’s side. We called her that and I have no idea the origin. She was always Nanny Schofer to us. The grandmother on the other side was Gram Hoover and our grandfather was Gramps. I honestly have little context to why we called them that, and I think I would be safe to say these words just didn’t magically come out of our mouth but was something that we were shaped to do. And it worked really really well for the longest of times. Then we introduce stepparents and grandmother became known as grandmother . One of my favorites is the surname of my stepmother as she was referred to as Mimi. That’s just damn cool.

And then there is GG. My wife’s mother was referred to as GG and it was short for Grumpy Grandmother. It eventually became a much beloved term of endearment

For many years I walked this planet with German background and heritage and none of the customs and mores. Then I became part of a German family and the terms, Oma and Opa became part of the vernacular. The kid’s grandmother is kindly referred to as Mama Bear. That was simply a nickname I had for her and that’s what the kids called her. It also worked well for a long time.

So for the most part we were shaped and molded to use a particular name for a grandmother or grandfather. As brothers and sisters started having kids, the names came in a more authentic way and in some cases the names flowed from the mouth of babes. We ended up with names like Pop and P pop as monikers for grandparents. And my mom she was simply Mom Mom.

I don’t know what’s right and what’s wrong. So I have argued they have preferred names that they like to be called. There is the school of thought of whatever comes out of the mouth of the child that she’ll be the name.

I am no expert on the subject. It’s an interesting subject and when my Nanny got together with Gram and Mimi came to visit I don’t think they discussed the subject even once. They just went about their business of being grandmothers. In retrospect, Mimi wasn’t even a grandmother at the time.

Please, when I become A grandparent please don’t call me sir. And that’s you the clerk in the supermarket and the person taking my ticket at a soccer game. Please call me by my proper name. Grandpa works fine.