The Name Game

Already people are asking if we have come up with any baby names. This, my friends, is a conversation fraught with pitfalls. When I was pregnant with Viva, I quickly learned to keep my mouth shut about possible baby names. I am not ashamed to say that I read some of the forums on BabyCenter and noticed other expectant moms posting that they were “crushed” or “in tears” because someone didn’t like the name they picked out. Veteran moms responded that you shouldn’t reveal the name until the baby was born, because at that point most people figure it’s too late anyway, and even if they hate it, they won’t complain about it to your face. Before the baby is born, people pretty much feel like they can say anything.

My grandmother kept telling me she liked the name Barry, and if she’d had a son, she would have named him that. That was not one of my names of choice, and that pissed her off. Other folks felt free to veto some of the names we came up with, flat out saying “I hear that name all the time, everyone’s naming their kid that,” or even, “Nah, I don’t like that so much.” It got to the point that I started making up stuff just to mess with people. “Well, if it’s a boy, Xerxes, and if it’s a girl, Lavinia,” I’d say. Because really, I could name my kid Tae Kwan Do and it’s nobody’s business but my own.

I welcome any name suggestions, but don’t take it personally if I don’t use one of the names you come up with. It's not that I don't like you, because I really, really do.

P.S. I'm thinking I should just merge this blog with Mama Blah Blah. Kind of a pain to maintain two blogs, and they are related -- it's not like one is personal, one related to a freelance business or anything like that. Any objections, make 'em now.

P.P.S. I changed the widget over on the right. It's much more cutesy than the scary floating alien baby I had there previously. I think my friend Mr. X will probably have some objection to this as well. This is because he is rarely if ever satisfied. He has issues.