What’s in a Name – The Art of Naming your Child

As the world waits breathlessly for the royal baby to be born, this week I read that many women in the UK right now are holding off naming their child because they’re waiting to hear what Kate and William will be naming theirs.  Apparently, over there, you have 6 weeks to name your child after birth and Kate is due any time now so they’re waiting to name their baby the same.

Seems kind of ridiculous to some of us over here maybe, but then again, we have celebrities recently naming their kids things like North and Blue Ivy… And, we have other people naming their kids after favorite celebrities too.

People come up with all kinds of clever and unique names. There are always the traditionalists who go for the family names or a mashup of two family members; my high school friend’s name was Joneva, a combination of her Mom and Dad’s name, John and Eva. You could always use a familiar name and just spell it differently.

Some name their kids after movie heroes, book characters or Disney characters. Some stick with biblical names or name every child starting with the same letter of the alphabet. Then there are the holiday names for a child born in December, Noel or Holly.

Then you get to the more unusual names. I worked with a lady years ago named Sundae Sweet. You’ve heard of people having the same first and last names…Chris Chris? Then there was the famous Texas daughter named Ima Hogg. Her daddy was the Attorney General and the Governor of Texas back in the early 1890’s.

Recently, there was the controversy over the parents in Jersey that named their children after prominent Nazi historical figures including Hitler. (read this story here).

There are also baby names that are against the law in other places…. (read this story here).

Every year the Social Security Administration puts out a list of the most popular baby names for the previous year. You can even find baby naming apps on line.

The bottom line is, people since the dawn of man have tried to give their children a sense of identity in choosing their names. We all want our boys to have a strong name and our girls a pretty name. All parents want to give their child everything and put their dreams and wishes into their beautiful new, sweet baby and his/her future. We choose names that make the family happy, us happy and hopefully our child happy. Naming your child is truly an art born of inspiration and love.

So, what’s in a name?....oh, just….everything!

New Baby Day Camp

A small group of youngsters sit in a circle around a pretend campfire. They watch as the procedure for changing diapers is covered and how to feed and hold a baby.  This class is a great idea for youngsters who are expecting a new baby in their household. It’s meant as a primer on what to expect when mommy brings the new baby home.

Most kids have no idea what having this new little person around will be like and they learn ways they can help out in the process and feel included. When they leave here, they will be certified big brothers and sisters.

Classes like this are sprouting up all over the states, usually in the larger cities, sponsored by hospitals, churches and women’s organizations. It’s a wonderful way to include your younger children and get them excited about having a new sibling.

This is awesome, they didn’t have that when I was a kid and Mom and Dad brought home this stinky brother of mine. J (He was born in December and I thought he was my Christmas present)

Top Ten Ways Daddy can Support Expecting Mommy

A little Top Ten List for the Expecting Daddy today-

#10.  Say, “I can’t wait” or “I’m so excited” – Even if you don’t feel it, say it anyway, pump up the enthusiasm, trust me on this.

#9.    Tell her she looks beautiful – There will be days she doesn’t feel it but it’s nice to hear.

#8.   Offer to rub her swollen feet – or her back, or whatever.  You have no idea how it feels to not be able to see your feet, much less reach them.

#7.    Ask what you can do for her – Pay attention to her needs, wants, and cravings.  Realize there’s little or no way she can control what is happening to her body and mind right now.

#6.    Step up and take some stuff off her hands – She got a lot to do to get ready and WAY less energy to do it with. Take on more of the household duties so she doesn’t have to choose between killing herself and living in squalor.

#5.   Agree with how she wants to decorate the baby’s room – Does the particular shade of blue matter to you anyway? And if she changes her mind and decides that Periwinkle would be better than Sky Blue, your response should be, “Of course sweetie, that’s no problem” and repaint with a smile.

#4.  Go to as many prenatal care appointments and birthing classes as you can – The response, “But honey, that’s my day to meet the boys at Hooters for lunch” is not the correct answer to hearing that her doctor’s appointment is scheduled for Wednesday noon.

#3.   Never say, “Ooooh”, “gross”, or wrinkle your nose at something related to the pregnancy - The doctors exam may seem weird and birthing movies she asks you to watch can be… uncomfortable… if you have to look away, do that, but please don’t say derogatory things, she may take it personally.

#2.   Plug in and generally participate – You got her pregnant, now you have to engage. Your job is not over, ever.

And the #1 way daddy can support expecting Mommy....

Be there for the labor -  Except for circumstances beyond your control, you must attend. There may be hours and hours of labor and it may seem like not much is happening for awhile but suck it up! Stay for the whole thing, beginning to end. When she’s really in pain she may yell at you, throw things at you and tell you to get the H*LL out. This is not your permission to leave. If you were in this much pain, you’d be screaming too.  Remember, this part is not about you!  … Oh, and don’t pass out.