When my children were born they were blessed to know a set of great-grandparents, their maternal grandparents and a paternal grandmother. We were very concerned about what our children could call all these grandparents. I knew their great-grandparents would be known as Nanny and Grandad. My great-grandmother and great-grandfather were my Nanny and Grandad so I wanted the same for my kids.
Things got trickier when it came to the grandparents. My father just some how became Grandpa. I’m not sure if he was overly keen on that name. I know it made him feel “old” even though he wasn’t (he became a Grandpa when he was 48!). That name just sort of fell upon him.
We had a hard time figuring out what they kids could call the grandmothers. They ended up referring to my step-mother as Grandma Linda and my husband’s mother simply Grandma. My children never had a chance to meet my husband’s father who passed away when he was a little boy. Our kids really don’t have a name for him. They just refer to him as “Daddy’s Daddy”.
Recently my step-sister gave birth to an adorable little girl, which made my father and step-mother grandparents again. It has me wondering what she will call my father and step-mother when she starts to speak.
“You Can Call Me Hoppa” is a wonderful book for anyone trying to figure out what to call the grandparents. I never realized there were so many other wonderful names aside from the cliche’ Grandma, Grandpa, Grandfather and Grandmother. This book really opened my eyes to the many special names children can call their grandparents.
While reading the book I learned that Bestemor is Norwegian for grandmother. I had a great-grandmother I called Bestemor. I never knew that it was Norwegian for grandmother. I just thought it was a nickname.
This book made me realize that you can give grandparents names in other languages (Grand Mere is French for grandmother – that is so pretty!). You can also give grandparents nicknames like Hoppa, Chief, or even Tootsie!
With the holidays upon us I think this would make a very special gift to give to the grandparent, or soon to be grandparent in your life.
“You Can Call Me Hoppa” is available at Amazon and at You Can Call Me Hoppa.
