What's In a Name

As I was out and about today searching for those final last minute items for back to school for the kids, I realized something quite ironic.

When we as parents find out we’re going to be parents, we spend enormous amounts of time contemplating on the right name for our child. We measure it along side the last name then balance it with a middle name that flows just right, and then test it out for months before finally granting the name the utmost honor by giving it to our beloved child.

The thing is, as the child ages, that most honored name becomes, in general, the name that the child learns to fear when used in its entirety! While shopping today a boy was not listening to his mother and she called him by his first name. He did not listen… not the first time, not the second… it wasn’t until she said his full – no nicknames included- name … first middle and last name, that he finally paid attention. This honored, lovingly thought of name has now become what is in essence to the child, a curse word.

I say this not with any judgment – not at all! I just find it quite ironic… which easily matches with all of the contradictions we as parents deal with on a daily basis. But it is interesting food for thought and maybe something good to remember when our little angels are in their least angelic form and causing many of us to purchase way more hair coloring (to cover the gray) than we ever thought we would… maybe if we remember how much love is behind those beautiful full names, we can find a little more inner peace and patience and help us get through whatever it was that caused the use of the full name in the first place!