Christopher.
Sunday, when I picked him up from extended stay at church, he was wearing a name tag that said, "Chris." It was distinctly in his very own handwriting.
I have proclaimed that he would always be called "Christopher" and not "Chris." Of course, I've learned a thing or two about motherly proclamations.
The thing was, he looked like a "Chris." He has gotten so much taller over the summer. He doesn't look at all like a toddler anymore because he isn't. People who meet him for the first time commonly mistake him for a five year old because of his height and his verbal skills.
He's a big boy now.
But he is still very much little. Wee very little. Especially emotionally and socially. He is still very much three years old.
He has had a hard time adjusting to his new preschool. He gets frustrated and angry. He doesn't know how to talk to the other kids. He has not wanted to listen to his teachers.
I was given this information last week. We immediately started trying to help him find his way. He and I are both working on using our nice voices more and our angry voices less. I am making mornings much more relaxed even if it makes us 10 minutes late. We are figuring out together how to help him be successful. Because he can be.
I digress.
Chris. I know I'll never call him that, but seeing it on his name tag, in his own writing, made it alright. He never would have fit "Christopher" on that little tag anyway.
Who knows? Maybe he'll end up being "Topher." That's what Colin is calling him.
How do you feel about other people nicknaming your kids? Shortening their names? Does it bother you?
7 comments:
Parents are particular about their kids names. Everyone calls my husband Joe, but he's Joseph to his family. Everyone calls my dad, David but to his mom he's Jonathan (his middle name). We purposefully named our kids short names that can't really be given a nickname. At least I don't think Jude or Noah can be much shorter.
He will always be Christopher to you even if everyone knows him as Chris.
Remember? Honey hated nicknames and refused to call you Marty for a long time. Said it reminded her of that comedian with the bushy hair, Marty Allen. I always intended to shorten your name--didn't want you to grow up being "Little Margaret." Look how inappropriate "Little Tommy" is.
Christopher is who he is, who God made him to be whether he is Chris or Topher, but he'll always be Christopher to his mom!
Katherine will eventually be given a nickname by someone. I'm ok with that (mostly). We haven't picked one because we like the full name and because we figure someone from school will give her one and we will probably use that too.
I AM particular about Patrick though, I HATE HATE HATE when someone calls him Pat. Call him by our last name or call him Patrick, but please do not call him Pat. I know too many women named Pat.
And, like pastormargaret said, he will always be your Christopher. I have a cousin who went by Jamie his entire life. He recently got married and I learned that outside of our family he apparently has gone by James for many years. I try to remember to call him James but it is hard after 30 years of Jamie.
- Heather Tucker
One of my naming requirements was that the name needed to have a natural nickname from the name (Will for William, not Bill, because there is no B in the name William). I love the casual nature of nicknames and giving people the option to be formal in the right time/place.
Then I dreamed about the name Colin for my youngest, and that was his name. Colin has no nickname, though his daddy still tries out "CJ" every so often (the J is for James, his middle name). I'm not sold - it isn't a natural or casual shortening of his actual name and sounds too contrived.
My middle kid has a nickname that I didn't give her. A daycare teacher did. But somehow, it was so very perfect that we still use it seven years later. I will say though, I've noticed she tells people her full name more often.
My son...eh, his was always going to be shortened.
I think you can always call him Christopher. But unless he has issue with it being Chris, it may be that to everyone else.
my girls have kind of long-ish names and i'm very particular about them as well....
fortunately in kindergarten everyone is calling them by ther whole names {teresia&johanna} and it seems to work fine...
i guess the shortening will come as soon as they're in their teens?!
So, you're a Margaret? Me too. But my mother always intended a nickname for me.
My child's name isn't really suited to nicknaming - but if anyone EVER calls her Randy, I will throttle them.
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