I recently sent this email to the newest members of our family:

Hey Little One,

Your mom and dad just told us the good news! You've arrived, but we'll need to wait about eight more months for your grand entrance. We can't wait!

Here's how God describes what's happening inside your mom's body.



For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be (Psalm 139:13-16).


What a miracle you are! You're the result of two wonderful people's love each other. You're being carefully, loving, miraculously "woven together" into a unique tapestry of your mom and dad's good looks, unique talents and abilities with a future that God Himself has planned for you.

And here's the part that amazes and humbles me: you're also one one-fourth of me and one-fourth of your grandmother. That's scary! Hopefully God is using just the good, but I am so awe-struck to be a part of what you are and will become.

We'll talk more, but we just wanted to introduce ourselves as your grandfather and grandmother (your mom's parents), and tell you how joyful we are that you're in the process of being "fearfully and wonderfully made." And most of all to let you know that you are loved and in our thoughts and prayers.

Love and prayers

Grandpa and Grandma,

We're of course thrilled, but I'm not sure I want to be called "grandpa." When I was a kid, "grandmas" and "grandpas" were really OLD people who smelled funny! So, I'm brainstorming some alternative names. (Besides, I'm not sure I want to be married to a "grandma"!)

How ‘bout "Super Dad" and "Super Mom"? Nah. What do you think of "Alpha Dad" and "Alpha Mom"? Yah, I know, a little too New Age-ish. Webster's Thesaurus lists as a synonym for grandfather "grandsire," but that sounds too much like a racehorse just one hoof from the glue factory.

"Grandman" sounds too Jamaican, man. And "G-Daddy" may be just a bit to "hip hop" for this grandpop!

My friend and very funny columnist Rhonda Rhea emailed me that her sister didn't like being "Granny," so she wanted to go with the trend of "Mimi." For some reason Rhonda's brother-in-law wasn't thrilled being "Peepee." They settled on "Mimi" and "Poppy."

I don't think that will work either. Our son-in-law is a deputy sheriff, who is specially trained in drug enforcement, so he's not going to agree to anything in the opiate family.

I'm not sure what we'll finally all agree upon to call Lois and me. (Feel free to email suggestions.)

But for right now, just call me elated!

Copyright © 2004 James N. Watkins

Note: August 2008

I am now "Papaw Jim" to four wonderful grandchildren—and I love it!

Comments

Here's my first thought suggestions - How about grandlois & grandjim? :0) Then there's the mama and papa possibility. Hmmm sounds like a singing group? I guess I kinda a traditionalist and prefer the grandma and grandpa myself. Our society is changing as we age and the names don't mean what they did 20 years ago. 50 doesn't look like 50 did 20-30 years ago. goodhome@adiis.net (September 2004)

Clever article! Great writing—from the heart I can tell. Grandma and Grandpa sound like wonderful names/titles/terms of endearment to me. What an honor to have a little one call you Grandpa or Grandma. You are GRAND! Not just ma or pa but GRAND! What a privilege and honor and blessing. Oh, and by the way, you don't smell funny.
:-) pktroyer@yahoo.com (September 2004)

Relax. You're going to be grandparents. You'll answer to whatever the children call you, and think it's just too cute. Dawn.Brendel@verizon.com (September 2004)

My grandparents were not thrilled at being Grandma and Grandpa either, we call them Big Mama and Big Daddy. It is southern and a very affectionate name. Just a thought. Congrats! LaShawn0831@aol.com (September 2004)

How about The Don or the Godfather? Poppa is very Italian also. Abuela, means my sweet grandmother, in Spanish, and Abuelo is grandpa. NeeNee and Poppo is my sister's kids' grandparents so they don't get our parents, Grandma and Grandpa Frey, mixed up. Good luck with the new "labels" and CONGRATULATIONS for the doubly good news! grateful4life40@yahoo.com (September 2004)

Don't kid yourself! The terms "Grandma" and "Grandpa" do not suggest advanced age but rather, when this marvelous thing happens to you, it reinvents youth for you. In order to truly enjoy this stage in your life, it requires that you are "young." With seven grandchildren between the ages of 2 and 10, I speak with the voice of experience. There is no music more thrilling to your ears than when a not-yet-two- year-old says, "Look, Grandma!" or "I love you, Grandpa!" Don't shortchange yourself with silly substitutes such as "peepee" or "mamaw"! It just isn't the same! rpfranke@locl.net (September 2004)

Here's a web site you can review for some suggestions: namesnerds.com (Click on Other Name Lists and then Names for Grandparents.) Have fun choosing your names and remember, your "true" grandparent name may end up as one that your grandchild(ren) bestow on you, especially when they first start talking. 01smith@gte.net (September 2004)



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