Amusing nicknames grandkids call grandparents
<p><em><strong>Pat Simmons, 69, is a writer of poems, short stories, flash fiction and articles. Her work has been published in anthologies and children’s magazines and she has won writer competitions in Australia and the UK.</strong></em></p>
<p>My grandson calls me Patty Arbart. It’s difficult to explain why but I’ll try. He and I used to watch a children’s program on television called <em>Mr. Maker</em>. <em>Mr. Maker</em> shows children how to make a variety of arty, crafty stuff and although Lewis couldn’t walk or say very much as he was only a year old, he really enjoyed this show, except for the part when a large, yellow puppet bird would pop out of a clock and screech phrases like “Only just” or “In a Minute.” Lewis was really scared of this noisy bird so I used to make fun of it by mimicking it. This amused him and he would try to copy me. “Only Just” somehow became “Arbart” and he started calling me “Arbart”. Then one day his mum suggested that they visit “Arbart”. His speech was, by now, developing rapidly. He looked at his mum and corrected her. “Patty Arbart,” he said. And the rest, as they say, is history.</p>
<p>I find this amusing so I asked friends and family via Facebook what their grandchildren call them, or what they call their grandparents.</p>
<p>Here are some of the results and I’d love to hear from readers of this article as I’m sure there are some gems out there.</p>
<ul>
<li>Suzanne: Nana Cake because I baked cakes for all my grandchildren and their other Nana was Nana Chook because she kept chooks. Suzanne added that now they all have less sugar in their diets, she and her husband are now Nana Sue and Poppy Bob.</li>
<li>Ann: She and her husband are Bummer and Bumper.</li>
<li>Kylie: Mum’s mum lived in Tempe, NSW and was on the train line for some years. It didn’t matter where she lived after that, she was always Nana Choot Choot.</li>
<li>Danika: My girls call my parents Omi and Opi (German). This is easier than having two grandmas and grandpas. (Nobody wanted to be Nana and Pop).</li>
<li>Simone: A friend calls her grandmother Nanma – didn’t like Nanny, wanted something different.</li>
<li>Elizabeth: G’ma and G’pa – this abbreviation was always written on cards and gifts by these lovely grandparents so grandchildren used the abbreviation.</li>
<li>Annie: Called her grandfather Gang Gang as she couldn’t say Grandad. How Australian is that?</li>
</ul>
<p>I really liked the fact that many others call, or are called by their first name: e.g. Nanny Helen, Papa Pete etc. First names are important.</p>
<p>So, what other names are out there? I’d love to know. Share in the comments below.</p>
<p><em>If you have a story to share please get in touch at <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="mailto:melody@oversixty.com.au" target="_blank">melody@oversixty.com.au</a></span></strong>.</em></p>
<p><strong>Related links:</strong></p>
<p><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/07/reflections-on-grandparenthood-from-a-new-grandparent/"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">My Tuesdays with Lewis: reflections from a new grandparent</span></strong></em></a></p>
<p><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/06/sibling-rivalries-in-my-childhood-shaped-who-i-am-today/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Sibling rivalries in my childhood shaped who I am today</span></em></strong></a></p>
<p><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/08/tips-to-preserve-your-family-history/"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">4 tips to preserve your family history</span></strong></em></a></p>
