Grandparent Names

I don't think it sounds uneducated at all. My MIL wanted to be called Grandma. Her oldest grandson pronounced it BawBaw. 6 grandchildren later, she is still BawBaw. My FIL is G-Daddy. Somehow they have all been able to say that. My dad is PawPaw and my mom is Nanna. My dad looks like a PawPaw. He occasionally wears Liberty overalls and proudly drives a Kubota tractor while tending to his garden. He is a smart man that can build anything out of wood and can take care of pretty much ANYTHING around the house. Mom fits the role of a Nanna. She plays in the dirt with her 4 grandsons and spoils them shamelessly. We are not a family of hillbilly's or rednecks.
It is interesting to think that what a child calls their grandparent could one day make them unable to speak proper English or take away opportunities for success. My boys speak proper English because that is the example that my family sets forth. We also expect them to say please, ma'am, sir, and thank you. I think in the case of grandparent names, it should be what the grandchild can say or what the grandparent prefers. Grin and bear it. In the grand scheme of things, is it really a big deal?

My son has a PawPaw.. Doesn't bother me at all.. None of us are uneducated either... I think it's fine~

I'm right there with you. I gave my MIL her name and as much as she hates it It's sticking are she doesn't get to see the kids as much.
Good Luck

I had a Grandma and a Grandpa on the California side and a Mammaw and Pappaw on the Tennessee side.
To avoid confusion with the great grandparents on the Tennessee side, my kids called my dad and step mom PawPaw and MawMaw.
Just for the record, I come from a long line of very proper, Southern people and there was never anything "redneck" or "hillbilly" ever assumed about my family.
Your assumption that this is dumb and hillbilly speak is a little presumptious of you, isn't it?
There's nothing wrong with proper grammar. All of my relatives are able to use it quite eloquently.
We still have Mammaws and Pappaws.

I don't mean any offense. I just wish you didn't have the opinion that it's somehow a connotation of "country folk" as opposed to "town people".

Just my opinion.

You're sounding a little uppity. Papaw is very common in Texas and all across the South. What's wrong with letting your father-in-law decide what his name is going to be? My mother is "Grammy" and my grandmother was "Mema" and yes, that's how I refer to her, as my Mema. Get over yourself.

Let your father-in-law be called what he wishes! He's earned that right. No one else is going to care what your kids call their grandparents.

Really does it matter. Of course as adults we say my grandmother or grandfather or my aunt or uncle when telling a story. I think it should be whatever the Grandparent wants. We have a grandson that just graduated from High School and he still calls my husband PawPaw. I think you are way more interested in what people think about you than your relationship with your inlaws. As long as your kids don't say ain't ect no one is considered ignorant for calling their Grandparents by cute names. Get over yourself.

Terms of endearment do not dictate a families level of education or literacy. Papaw is a very common name, and yes, my country grandfather is called Papaw. For my kids, they have Papa Joe, Memaw, Big C and Granmummy (yes, that is the east coast grandmother). Do they love Granmummy more because her name is more sophisticated? NO, resoundingly not. This is an opportunity to teach "don't judge a book" lessons to your children, a person isn't only the name we call them but the love you share. And please, before you submit another question with widely judgemental overtones, use spell check.

I didn't read all of the responses, however, I wanted you to know that both my husband and I have advanced degrees, our kids speak eloquently, we live in a very nice neighborhood. My children call my Dad, pawpaw, and we have no issue with it. It's more of a special feeling than being labeled "hick or hillbilly". It's an endearment!! You may have left southern Missouri, but you're bringing the labels with you, yourself. Are you sure you left? Do they love your children? If so, then don't get hung up on the name. Don't sweat the small stuff, life is too short. Pawpaw will not be around forever.

I have to agree with most of the posts below! These are all VERY common names in Texas and most of the south and you do sound like a snob! Sorry. Most grandchildren name their own grandparents anyway if you let them! These are all terms of endearment and respect and if you are going to live here comfortably, you better get used to using them and RESPECTING them and not making fun of them! Texans are VERY friendly and outgoing, but you are putting up a wall before you even get to know us by your lack of respect. Be PROUD that your father in law WANTS to be papaw to his grandchild. Texan's are VERY well educated and have some wonderful colleges and graduates, but, If you want to be "uppity" go to New York or Chicago or somewhere, because in Texas, we are a friendly, "hillbilly, redneck" kind of state and WE LOVE IT!

You know what? This isn't about uneducated hillbilly speak. This is about respect. You have a man who loves your family and loves your children. He wants to be called Pawpaw. Respect that. Respect him. Let him be called what he wants to be called. It isn't about you. The kids don't care. Let them have their relationship, and fight things that matter. This just doesn't matter.

My mother wanted to be called Mawmaw. You know what? I hate it. But the kids love her, she has an open heart and open arms to them, and so Mawmaw it is. My oldest brother & his wife fought it with openly. They wanted their kids to call her MeMaw. So they fought it and forced it. My mother hated MeMaw. (Who knew a vowel was so important?) She cringed every time they called her that...for years. Now those two boys are 13 and 15 and guess what? They call her Mawmaw. Because they saw that (a) everyone else did it and (b) how much she loved being called that.

Let it go. Learn to appreciate what you have...an involved grandparent who loves your child.

VickiS

Let him be called what he wants to be called.

Your post makes you sound like a WANNABE snob, which is entirely worse than a hillbilly or redneck. Myself and the rest of Texas would like to invite you to take that obnoxious attitude up north somewhere, where you might be able to get away with it.
Y'all have a good day now.

You think your four year old doesn't refer to them in conversation as Papaw and MeMa because it sounds dumb? I don't know your son, but I have a four year old and a seven year old, and in my experience, they would only have an association like that (i.e. The word Papaw sounds dumb) if *I* had given it to them.

I'm from Texas, but I have a masters degree and live in the city, and I've never had an issue with my parents being called Nana and Papa by my kids. We called my grandparents Grandmama and Granddaddy, and to me those sound very country, but if my parents had chosen to go by those names, I would have been fine with it.

It's been my experience that the grandchild dictates what the grandparent is to be called. I had a Pa-Paw (I gave him that name) & a Gramma on one side, a Granddad & a Granny on the other. My oldest nephew called my mother "Ping" for awhile. (We have no idea why) Then he started calling her "Franny" and that is what we all call her now. The relationship with the grandparent is more important than the name. It is not a bad thing to teach proper grammar when your child is learning to speak. Most people understand that grandparent's pet name is a seperate consideration from educational level. It's a reflection of love and not of breeding.

I have always thought it was the child who dictated what the grandparents were to be called. I have a grandma and grandpa that have been shortened over the years to gma and gpa. My other grandparents were nanny and pawpaw. That later was shortened to nan and pop. My parents are now nana and papabear. And I assure you we are well educated and not hillbillies or rednecks. I think you need to put this into perspective and realize that you shouldn't be worried about this. Who knows how long you will him around. I lost my nan at age 16 and my pop at age 19. You should just be grateful that you have a wonderful caring man who loves your children and pray he is around for a long, long time.

Well, I guess being in the south it is what it is.....I just wish people would stop thinking people with southern accents and dialect are uneducated---to whom? Why does that make a difference? I am born and raised here and actually for a while tried to change my dialect......my intelligence did not change, I did not feel smarter, no one took my degree away from me, so I hope this part of your concern would be no more. My kids do have a southern accent popping up, and although I do correct the "yep" responses into a "yes" the names they call their grandparents are a non-issue. Just like I did not want my youngest to be called Sammy, short for Samantha....lo' and behold, one day I was introducing her at age 2, the person asked what her name is, and in the sweetest voice she said "Sammeee." I melted and did not care anymore. The thing in life that matters, as my mom always says, "I don't care what they call me as long as they call me." Couldn't say it any better myself---southern dialect and all! :-)

I grew up in CA; my grandparents were Nana, Papa, and MiniMa.

My kids have a Nana, Papa, Papa Don (or sometimes just Donny-Don), NanyNany, Grandma, Grandpa, BoomBoom, and Gigi.
We didn't choose any of them, some we inheirited from older cousins and some the grandparents chose themselves.

I think the only madness you need to stop is your own. You actually called your fil a hillbilly? Maybe instead of worrying about how your children will sound to others you should worry a little bit more about how you sound and learn to show some respect to your fil and fellow Texans. Or leave, that works too.

ETA: sorry, I was unnecessarily snarky and rude, it's been a long day. Better answer is your kids will call them what they want regardless of what you want - which is how we ended up with a BoomBoom and a Donny-Don :)

Both my grandfathers were Papa when I grew up because apparently when I was little, that's all I could say when calling out to them. I always refer to them as grandpa as an adult. Our kids started out using Grandpa and Grandma and over X-Mas while visiting my parents they started calling them Grammy and Grampy...ridiculous, but my parents got a kick out of it and it's kind of sticking. As long as they are close to them and have a good relationship with them, that's all that matters. The name is just a name really.

There is nothing wrong with a child calling their grandparents something cute. And just because someone sounds like a "hillbilly" doesn't mean they are uneducated. That is such a rude thing to say! I am educated and I still call my grandfather-in-law Pawpaw. Hillbilly and redneck? I sure hope you aren't teaching your children those racist words are okay to say...

It's my opinion, but I think you are being overly harsh. I called my grandparents Nana and PawPaw and Mimi and I'm neither uneducated nor a hillbilly. It's part of our culture to have these names for our beloved grandparents. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it. Of course, what you decide for your children is up to you, but I think you need to stop and think about what you are writing on a public forum. You're insulting many people who are proud of their Texas/Southern heritage. And yes, one can say "y'all" or "fixin' to" and not be perceived as an uneducated hick. That is determined by a person's overall manner, not the words that they speak.

Is this really the mountain you want to die on? Meaning, do you care SOOO much that you would let it be a problem. If you've already said "I think we should stick with Grandpa b/c that's what Johnny knows and Joey is going to pick it up from Johnny" and Grandpa still says "come to papaw" then just let it be. You've said your peace, he's trying out Paw Paw, there are a LOT of Paw Paw's out there. My kids have a Paw Paw, 2 Maw Maw's, a GG, a Mimi, Coach, and a Nana. A lot of people started to think Paw Paw and Maw Maw were "old" and switched to the Nana and Mimi stuff, but if yours doesn't just let it be. I don't go around saying "my paw paw" told me a story about this or that, but it's not because I'm embarrased, it's to clairfy that it's my grandfather as opposed to my uncle or someone else in the family or my husband's grandfather. I just don't think this is a fight worth fighing in the big scheme of things. You can still tell your kids "we are going to your grandparents house today" instead of "Grandma and PaPaw's house". Relax!

SInce your oldest was already calling him Grandpa when he decided he wanted to be called something else, I think it is a non-issue now. If he had told you that before your oldest was talking, that would be different.

I say not to worry about it. Your kid(s) will call them their own version for awhile anyway.

My mom has the same request...I think she wants to avoid being Grandma Maiden Name.

Wow, this sure elicited alot of responses.....some rather heated! I must say, I agree that PaPaw would not be my favorite choice of grandparent names. But, I also agree with everyone else. I think you're going to have to "take one for the team." You surely don't want to risk offending or alienating your children's grandfather. Just grin and bear it, baby!

I've lived all over the US, and I've heard "Meemaw," "Peepaw," and other such names from the north to the south. These weren't uneducated people, either. Some were doctors, teachers, etc. If your child's grandparents have a preference, respect that preference. I was only 40 when I became a grandmother. I was NOT ready to be "Grandma" or even Grandmother. My daughter kept trying to teach my granddaughter to say "Grandmama." It came out "Memama." I said, "Stop right there! I can handle that!" My husband became "D-Daddy." It's not unusual to be at Walmart or Kroger and hear someone call out "Memama!" All my grandkids' friends call us that. As for "Y'all," that isn't bad grammar. I have an English degree and it's a contraction of YOU ALL. It sure beats "Youse guys" which is what they say up north, educated or not!

Madness because a grandfather loves his grandbabies and wants to have a term of endearment that is special between them? I think Grandpa or Grandfather sounds sooo cold and has no emotion.

I am 37-years-old, a professional, and a proud Texan. I don't necessarily use 'fixin to, ya'll, or all ya'll' at work, but my PaPaw is still my PaPaw even though I lost him 21 years ago. I lost my Memo (pronounced long e and long o) this year and I have no problem calling her my Memo everytime I talk about her, no matter who it is. Sometimes I have to explain who it is to the audience, but I don't mind. I also still call my father (ouch that hurt), Daddy. My MIL was trying to be ugly and make my kids call her husband Grumpy. My oldest pronounced it Bimpy and now, all 5 of his grandkids lovingly refer to him as Bimpy. My mother never wanted to be called Granny because it sounded like an old lady (she was only 45 when my brother had his first child). Her co-workers joked she would be Granny and in my nephew's translation of the word it bacame Ginny or Granny to all 12 of her grandkids and pretty much anybody else she meets. As she put it, they can call me whatever they like. These are terms of endearment, not hillbilly talk or redneck. I think these names show the love and special bond between my family. I strongly agree with the saying, "Anybody can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a Daddy!"

I agree these are your kids and your choice. I like what the other post said, "Is this really a mountain you want to die on?" I wonder if your husband is embarrassed about the names, or just tries not to use them because he knows it is irritating to you? If these were offensive to my husband I would have to tell him to get over it. Maybe it is just your fear of The Ozarks making you over sensitive about the names? Either way, you either lay down the law or accept and respect your In-law's wishes.

Best of luck with your decision!
K.

My parents are Mo and Op. My husband's mom is Nana. But whenever the kids are telling someone about them, they call them Grandma or Grandpa...just something they do on their own :o). I like the personalized names...because they are fitting and the kids came up with them. I even catch myself calling them all those names!

We started off referring to my parents as "grandma and grandpa" for our daughter. She ended up saying "poppa" and "gee-ma." Now that she can enunciate better, she does say "grandma" but her grandpa is still her "poppa."

I don't think it sounds uneducated. Lots of people have lots of different names for family members. Plus, even if it's "papaw" now, it can always change as they get older.

I know you already responded, but I thought I'd chip in just because.

My daughters have three sets of grandparents (my two sets of parents and her dad's nuclear family). My husband called his Grandpa B (last name initial) and I thought that was odd and so we decided to ask each set to pick their names. We have Grandma and Grandpa, Nonna and Papa, and Gumby and Pokey. (The last one started as a joke but Pokey - the grandfather here - never offered up an alternative so he's stuck. Gumby was a childhood nickname of the grandmother in question.)

My Grandpa refers to himself as Grand-dad and always has but he's the only one and it never took so he's Grandpa to me.

Also, my mom wanted to be Nonna Laura and her husband Papa David and I flat out told her it wasn't going to happen. In the end, I feel strongly that what the kid comes up with is who they are and the person in question should accept the honor that comes with having a child call you by name.

My aunt is Annah ("on-uh") because I couldn't say her name when I was a kid and to this day they are Annah and Uncle Tim. I love it and my kids call her the same thing.

As a child, I actually didn't really "know" any of my grandparents. My maternal grandparents lived with us for quite some time, until I was about 3 years old (my parents were having rough times, seperations, and my mother had health/injury issues...after having my brother and I back to back then hurting her knee in a fall).They all lived in Florida (I am in MN), and it might as well have been the Moon. We never visited, nor did they (but for the time when I was young and they lived here...I have ONE single memory of their time in our home).

They were called Me-Mom and Pe-Pop. Apparently older cousins had begun this back in FL, so thats who they were to us. Until I was in High School and my grampa passed away and grandma came to live here (and died a few short years later), I never even knew their given names! I always considered it special and endearing that we had such "exclusive" names for our grandparents.

Until recently I didn't even know that regions of the US had such names similar to this for their grandparents. Growing up in MN I had never ever heard anyone ever call a Grandparents by anything similar! My paternal Grandmother was always called Grandma "Last name" (not my fathers name, as she remarried I guess...I never ever met her in person that I know of.)

I had only ever heard grandparents called Grandma or Grandpa...occasionally a "Nana" in there. Thats it.

My son called his Grandpa Papaw. He was from Texas and thats what he wanted to be called. It doesnt sound uneducated. My friends father was called that also.....and the are from California.

Guess what, I'm going to be the only one to agree with you! Sort of. I agree that mimi and papaw and nona and memaw or however you spell it sounds hickish and backwoods. I do. I little part of me cringes inside every time I hear it. Same thing when my mil says "warsh" instead of wash or quesadilla with the l's pronounced like on Napolean Dynomite.

Yes, I'm from the north and I called my grandparents meme and pepe (french) and the other side was grandma and grandpa. Call me a snob - frankly, it's probably true. I would never go into a professional environment talking like that, and I think that talking like that hinders one professionally. And btw, it's not just southern accents, it's northern too. I was just in NYC and after listening to a woman talking with a thick NY accent mentioned to my husband, "I wonder whether talking like that hinders her professionally." Did you ever notice that all news-reporters pretty much have no accent? No matter where you are from and where the reporter is from, they all sound the same and appear to have no accent. That is ideal in my opinion. Same with slang.

BUT- guess what? I married a Texan and his parents are mimi and papa and it is what it is. And they are the most caring and loving family I've ever met and so my son calls them mimi and papa. I've never said anything to them about it and I never will.

It's tough, but I think you should let the grandparents be called whatever they are comfortable with. Maybe he feels pawpaw is more loving and less formal than Grandpa or grandfather and he feels that will give him a special connection with the kids. I've heard Glammy, Oma, Nona and Nana for grandmother, while my mother-in-law wants to be "HeyBoop" (she made that up and has personalized her license plates with it) and my mother prefers the British "mumzy". I think the bottom line is that whatever name a grandparent chooses to make that special connection and establish their role in the kid's life, it doesn't really matter what the name is. My husband never got to meet any of his grandparents because they died before he was born. Be thankful for loving family in your kids' lives and let such a small thing (in the big picture) go.

Well, young children aren't going to say "grandfather", so it's common to start with something they can pronounce. My dad was "gwampa" until my daughter could pronounce her "r"s :-) As your children get older, they will switch to refering to him as "my grandfather" or "my granddad". I don't think young children calling their grandfather by a pet name sounds uneducated.

My mother is Grandma, My mother in law is Grandmama. My father is Doc( this is what my father wanted to be called) , my father in law is Grandpa. My stepfather is Pippaw( my son named him this because he couldn't say grandpa and it stuck) . My son also has a Great-grandpa ( Grandpa) , and a Great-grandma he calls Mimi( whom I named when I was very little) . I think it depends on what is comfortable. My son makes his names for people, or we just do the traditional ones. I had to laugh, because my mom is from Tennessee, and I hear you on the "aw's" My great grandpa we called Paw, and my great grandma was Maw..It's a southern thing.

It's very common. I always called my grandparents grandma and grandpa. My husband called his Papa and Granny so yep now my kids call their grandparents Papa and Granny. I don't think it sounds uneducated but endearing.

We have a pawpaw. It's ok. It is a bit country, but it's so adorable when the little guy is trailing behind asking questions...is that right pawpaw, lets sit here pawpaw, ilike your hat pawpaw. It's like an episode of Andy Griffith or something. But, same as your husband, we don't refer to him as pawpaw when we talk about them. Its his grandmother and grandfather. Heeeeere's the thing. You don't get to choose what soemone else is called. He can't tell your son, don't call her momma, call her mimi. What you want to be called is deeply personal to you. If he wants to be pawpaw, well, that's up to him.

My children call my dad "PaPa" but I'm sure it's the same as "PaPaw" we are originally from Illinois and it started there... my daughter (1st born) wouldn't say grandpa, but papa... and everyone else since then calls him that... He's proud to be cal that, and to me it doesn't sound hillbilly or anything like that... My grandpa is still alive and they still have the titles of "grandpa". Actually, I've known some family around here in Texas, where the nick name for "dad" is PaPa.
I also had a step grandfather growing up, he's since passed away, but we called him PoPo... My cousin called him that when she was a baby, we loved it, and called him that. He was just as much a grandpa was to us as our grandpa, but I think the adults never wanted my bio-grandpa to be upset, don't really know or care... I love them both the same, they loved me too...
In my opinion you are making more out of it than it is... I don't think it makes anyone sound hillbilly or redneck, they are nicknames for grandparents... nothing wrong with it in my book...

I don't know whether that is popular in the area or whether people would think it would be uneducated. People in NY don't use that term. However, I can relate to the change in name. When my oldest was two years old, my husband's grandmother suddenly said, "I was thinking about what K should call me and I thought about GG for Great Grandma." Well that was fine and good if she had said so when the baby was born, but my daughter knew who "great grandma" was and was calling her something that sounded like it. I had to tell her that it was too late at 2 years old with a verbal child to do that. I think that side of the family does not realize that kids are already aware of names at that age.
You can't force them to use a name. You can't stop him from saying "Come to Papaw" or signing that on a card. However, when you speak, tell your son, "Bring this to grandpa" and refer to him as "grandpa" when you speak about him. Then, you son will just call him whatever he calls him and it's out of your hands.

I am grandma and hubby is papa. The kids call my ex granddad and his wife memaw. I don't know of anyone who doesn't have special names for their grandparents. Of course those names are personal and not for relating to co-workers and non family members.

We have several grandparents, and they each have their special name. Usually it is the oldest grandchild that gets to pick and that name usually sticks for the rest of the grandchildren to use. My own grandparents are Me-Ma and Pe-Pa and that is how I introduced them to friends growing up, and yes, my friends called them that too. I would think of it as more of a nickname instead of "hillbilly-ness." If you have grandparents that love you or your children, it doesn't really matter what they are called!

We have two papas. A grammy and a grandma.

We have grandma's and grandpa's... except for nanny and pawpaw, but that's because their very southern Louisiana grandbabies called them that first.

I prefer grandma and grandpa, but to each their own :)

Like I want to be 'mommy'... but somehow I'm 'mama'... drives me nuts, but I got over it, because that's what the KIDS came up with, you know?

All of the grandparents for my children chose their own names. (Nana, Pop Pop and Bapska (which is Polish for grandma)). Sorry, but I really think it is more their decision than yours. And for what is is worth, I think Papaw is adorable. Our Bapska has passed on now, and when we speak of her, we still call her that name, even my husband does (it was his mom). I am actually looking forward to the day when I can pick out my "grandma" name :)

It is not "an uneducated." It is a very common name for a grandpa and a
cute one at that. You need to lighten up. You think your kids will not be
successful because they call grandpa Papaw! I guess instantly correct
your little ones when for example one says "everypeople" for everybody;"
you know all the little phrases that little ones have. As for me I do not
because they are just too cute and soon enough their english is correct.

Papaw is probally the most common grandparent name around here. It is an issue of respeect. If he has been a good parent then he deserves to enjoy his grandchildren. The children will call him what they want, I had lots of grandparents. Only one is left, it doesnt matter what she is called, just that she is called. I would really let this one go.

I think the grandparent should get to choose what they want to be called. You'll want the same for yourself when the time comes! There are tons of Papaws around here - my kids have one. It's very common here, and no matter what the name is - even if it was Grandpa - it may sound silly coming from a grownup. I think you may be putting too much importance on this. You should probably let it slide and live to fight another day! =)

The few responses I read seem to forget 1 thing: these are your kids. You get final say. I'm sure I have an unpopular opinion, but you have to live with these references. If you cringe every time you hear it, then it's not right. Also what's cute when the kids are little is not so cute when they are a little older. Follow your gut. If you don't cave, they'll come around.

We let our kids call them whatever they want. We ended up with Pappy and Mamaw.... Doesn't bug me and doesn't bug them. Follow your sons ques and let him call them what he wants. Hopefully the grandparents will respect that.

Good lcuk!

I say let him be called what he wants. It does not sound uneducated, just like a nick name like any other kids have for people. My fil is big grampa, and probably always will be even though my boys are now old enough to know that is not the correct pronunciation. In the end, who cares. It is about the kind of relationship they have with each other, not what others think of a nick name.

It's one thing not to want your kids to say ya'll and sound like they are from Texas which sounds like they are. But Papaw is the most common name for a grandfather in Texas and that is not uneducated at all. My mom is a Nanna and my dad God rest is soul was a papaw. Let the kids decide what they want to call him without your influence. If they don't feel comfortable calling him that they wont. My oldest is the one that came up with Nanna cause he could not say Grandma.

(no offense to NB)
I much prefer papaw to pe-paw (not sure if they spelt it w/one or two "e"s) - it just doesn't sit well w/me

some probably think it's cute, but I was pushing hard for his side to NOT call my little ones "bubby and sissy" -- it has always irked me, guess part of it sounds too much like baby talk that I didn't want to get started with and the other sounds too much like name-calling w/a bit older child