I’m not Hispanic, but if I were to marry a Hispanic, I think I’d let the kids call my spouse’s father “Abuelo” and my own father “Granddad” (“Grandpa” is too common). I’m not even Portuguese, but if my spouse were Portuguese, the kids’ grandfather will probably be “Avô”; “avó” is grandmother.
My entire neighborhood was of Polish extraction, and grandfather was an Americanized version of “Dziadek”, namely dziadzi (pronounced JAH-jee). It wasn’t until I had kids of my own that we had to decide what to call my kids’ grandparents, since the tradition had died off by then.
I was lucky enough to have all four of my grandparents until I was an adult. My Australia grands were Nana and Pop. The German side was Grossmutter and Grossvater. Our great grandchildren call my husband a-ge-du-da, which is Cherokee.
This was less of an issue when 4 grandparents was about all you could possibly have. Now, you have grandma, who has three exs and a current livein, grandpa who is living with him boyfriend, and an equally confusing situation on the other side.
My daughter called my husband’s parents Gramma and Grammpa Boat (because they had a boat – surprise) and my parents were just Gramma and Grampa. My mother is still alive and all the grandchildren and great grandchildren call her Gramma. Which disappointed my little sister (who has all the next gen of grandchildren) who wanted to be called Gramma. She is called Meemaw instead. I have a grandcat and am just fine with that! :o)
FINNYGIRL GC INSIDER LESS THAN A MINUTE AGOIt’s confusing for aunts/great-aunts, too. I have no kids, but I have 8 siblings, who all have kids, some of whom also have kids. Keeping track of what the kids call their grandparents (my siblings) is confusing. If I ask one “Where is Grandma?” and he or she calls the grandmother “Nonnie,” I get a blank stare. So I do manage at family functions to ask everybody what they are called and try to keep track until each child is old enough to understand who I mean. As for what they call ME, I ask the parents if they prefer that I be called “Aunt Josie” or “Auntie Jo,” but I tell them it’s just fine with me if they just call me “Josie” or “Jo.” (These are not my real names, just examples.) (It’s probably old-fashioned for an aunt even to worry about these things.) As for who chooses, often the child chooses by first calling grandpa Gampy or something, but also, I have friends who say "I don’t want to feel like a grandma/grandpa, so I want him/her to call me Nonnie or Peepaw (as above), etc.
Another challenge, as Dianne mentions above, is exes and currents and boyfriends and girlfriends, especially in big families. My ex’s sister had 8 kids. The oldest daughter for years went out with a guy named, let’s say, Jack, but then rather abruptly married a man we’ll call Brad. They had a baby, and when my ex’s mother first met the baby, she said ‘Oh, he looks just like Jack!" There was an embarrassed silence, then somebody said, "Let’s eat" or something, and I don’t think she ever did realize her mistake. (She did learn the right name for the baby’s father, though.)
Templo S.U.D. about 7 years ago
I’m not Hispanic, but if I were to marry a Hispanic, I think I’d let the kids call my spouse’s father “Abuelo” and my own father “Granddad” (“Grandpa” is too common). I’m not even Portuguese, but if my spouse were Portuguese, the kids’ grandfather will probably be “Avô”; “avó” is grandmother.
flyertom about 7 years ago
My entire neighborhood was of Polish extraction, and grandfather was an Americanized version of “Dziadek”, namely dziadzi (pronounced JAH-jee). It wasn’t until I had kids of my own that we had to decide what to call my kids’ grandparents, since the tradition had died off by then.
Plods with ...™ about 7 years ago
Papa. Not sure what the greats are gonna call me.
Keith Mefferd Premium Member about 7 years ago
I went with G-Dad or G-Daddy. My mother-in-law went with GiGi (for great grandma)
rare appearance about 7 years ago
Pluggers do not choose what they are called. Their oldest grandchild does!
david_42 about 7 years ago
My wife has quasi-adult kids, but neither will ever have children.
Dani Rice about 7 years ago
I was lucky enough to have all four of my grandparents until I was an adult. My Australia grands were Nana and Pop. The German side was Grossmutter and Grossvater. Our great grandchildren call my husband a-ge-du-da, which is Cherokee.
Diane Lee Premium Member about 7 years ago
This was less of an issue when 4 grandparents was about all you could possibly have. Now, you have grandma, who has three exs and a current livein, grandpa who is living with him boyfriend, and an equally confusing situation on the other side.
contralto2b about 7 years ago
My daughter called my husband’s parents Gramma and Grammpa Boat (because they had a boat – surprise) and my parents were just Gramma and Grampa. My mother is still alive and all the grandchildren and great grandchildren call her Gramma. Which disappointed my little sister (who has all the next gen of grandchildren) who wanted to be called Gramma. She is called Meemaw instead. I have a grandcat and am just fine with that! :o)
Perkycat about 7 years ago
At his age, I don’t think I would go with Peepaw – might hit too close to home.
I'll fly away about 7 years ago
Baba and PapPap. Baba- Slovenian for Grandmother. Stadi-Baba- (sp?) is great-grandmomother.
McGehee about 7 years ago
I had a Grandpa and Grandma on one side, Nana and Daddy Bob (step-grandfather) on the other. My brother’s step-grandkids called him Umpa.
pcolli about 7 years ago
How about “Grandpapa”? My own grandfather was referred to as “Grampy”.
bigelowbigelow about 7 years ago
I want to be called Grampy
jppjr about 7 years ago
It’s always hard on a man when he finds out his daughter is going to present him with a grand child…..he then knows for sure she’s been having sex.
cats_in_bowties about 7 years ago
Peepum. Stock up on nastygum.
finnygirl Premium Member about 7 years ago
FINNYGIRL GC INSIDER LESS THAN A MINUTE AGOIt’s confusing for aunts/great-aunts, too. I have no kids, but I have 8 siblings, who all have kids, some of whom also have kids. Keeping track of what the kids call their grandparents (my siblings) is confusing. If I ask one “Where is Grandma?” and he or she calls the grandmother “Nonnie,” I get a blank stare. So I do manage at family functions to ask everybody what they are called and try to keep track until each child is old enough to understand who I mean. As for what they call ME, I ask the parents if they prefer that I be called “Aunt Josie” or “Auntie Jo,” but I tell them it’s just fine with me if they just call me “Josie” or “Jo.” (These are not my real names, just examples.) (It’s probably old-fashioned for an aunt even to worry about these things.) As for who chooses, often the child chooses by first calling grandpa Gampy or something, but also, I have friends who say "I don’t want to feel like a grandma/grandpa, so I want him/her to call me Nonnie or Peepaw (as above), etc.
finnygirl Premium Member about 7 years ago
Another challenge, as Dianne mentions above, is exes and currents and boyfriends and girlfriends, especially in big families. My ex’s sister had 8 kids. The oldest daughter for years went out with a guy named, let’s say, Jack, but then rather abruptly married a man we’ll call Brad. They had a baby, and when my ex’s mother first met the baby, she said ‘Oh, he looks just like Jack!" There was an embarrassed silence, then somebody said, "Let’s eat" or something, and I don’t think she ever did realize her mistake. (She did learn the right name for the baby’s father, though.)
dudley_tundish about 7 years ago
We’re Opa and Oma, the German equivalent of grandma and grandpa.