When a couple welcomed their first child into the world, they wanted to pay tribute to their grandmothers by choosing a name inspired by them. The wife expected her grandma to be thrilled, but instead, she was upset. Did they make a mistake? Who’s in the wrong? Here’s the story, as told on Reddit:
The Background
The Original Poster (OP) kicked off her post by setting the stage. She explained that her family had a longstanding tradition of hosting a party about 2-3 months after a baby’s birth. During this gathering, the family would unveil the baby’s name, and all relatives would bring gifts for the newborn.
Grandma’s Special Quilt
OP’s sisters all had kids before her, and their grandma had a sweet tradition where she’d make a special quilt for each new baby, sewing their names onto it beautifully. Now OP and her husband had their first child, she was looking forward to her grandma doing the same for their precious little daughter…
Brainstorming Names for the Baby
When it came to settling on a name for their new bundle of joy, OP and her husband wanted to pay tribute to the two most special women in their lives – their grandmas.
Settling On a Middle Name
OP’s husband’s treasured grandmother, Mary, had left a lasting impression on him, but she sadly passed away when he was just 19. To honor her legacy, they chose to give their child the middle name “Mary” (he already has a niece named Mary, so they couldn’t opt for it as the first name).
With the middle name sorted, they now needed to pick a first name for their baby. They wanted it to be inspired by OP’s grandmother…
“Barbara?”
While OP’s grandma’s original name was “Lucille,” she preferred to be called “Barbara” and even went as far as officially changing her name. When OP asked her about it, her grandma would always reply with a shrug, “No reason, I just like Barbara better.”
While OP likes the name Barbara, she didn’t want it as a first name for her baby. Two of her nieces already have Barbara as their middle name, so she wanted to do something different…
Inspiration Struck
As the couple pondered over the perfect name for their little one, inspiration finally struck. Her husband had always loved watching the show “I Love Lucy” with his grandmother, a memory that he held close to his heart. With OP’s grandmother originally named Lucille, it was a no-brainer for them…
Baby Lucy
Given the joint connection, the couple decided their daughter’s name should be “Lucy.” They couldn’t have been happier with their choice and eagerly anticipated sharing it with their family. Unfortunately, the name was about to trigger a reaction they hadn’t expected…
They Announced the Name
Prior to the party, the couple Facetimed their families to share the name. When OP’s grandma heard it, she didn’t react at all – not a single word or expression. It was as if she had gone completely blank. OP, taken aback, began to explain why they chose that particular name. However, her grandma abruptly hung up, leaving OP even more shocked and confused…
Grandma Wouldn’t Pick Up Their Calls
OP tried calling her grandma numerous times to talk things out, but she wouldn’t answer. Determined to get to the bottom of things, OP turned to her older sister for help. She asked her sister to call their grandma and figure out the issue…
She Was Offended
After the call, OP’s sister told her their grandma was upset and offended. Apparently, she believed OP was mocking her by choosing a name she no longer identified with. To make matters more complicated, she refused to attend OP’s party or create the special quilt unless OP a) offered an apology and b) changed the name.
OP’s Confused
OP’s been baffled ever since the incident. Her grandma, usually a kind and easygoing woman, had never expressed any dislike for her previous name. So why did she hate the fact OP had chosen it as her daughter’s name? Should she have consulted her grandma beforehand? Had she been insensitive by picking it? Unsure, she turned to Reddit for opinions…
Reddit Users Offered Their Insights
OP’s post received many comments, with most users offering OP more perspective and insight into her grandma’s reaction and OP’s actions. For example, one user thought OP was in the wrong: “I cannot imagine giving my child a name that I knew my grandmother had a VERY specific issue with, without discussing it with her at least once.” Not everybody shared that idea, though…
It’s Not Her Fault
Some people were more sympathetic. One wrote, “The name holds special meaning for your husband and is a great story. And Lucy is a beautiful name. It’s not even Lucille, which was your grandma’s name until she changed. She always felt like Barbara that is great and it’s great she was able to choose that for herself. But she cannot choose names for other people. Perhaps her reasons are deeper than you know, and that is where the reaction stems from. Maybe not. But either way you have done nothing wrong and she’s overreacting.”
What Do You Think?
Do you think OP is in the wrong for choosing a name that her grandma had legally changed, thus indicating that it was a name she no longer wanted to be associated with? Or is her grandma overreacting? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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Source: Reddit