Mother-In-Law Refuses To Call Grandchildren By Their Real Names

This frustrated mum says her mother-in-law won’t call the children by their real names…

A mum has taken to Reddit to share her annoyance about her mother-in-law refusing to call her grandchildren by their real names. The mum says religious differences are at the root of the problem, with her mother-in-law giving her children nicknames based on her preferred names for them, rather than the real names they were called.

A Difference Of Opinion

The mum-of-two said that her mother-in-law had strong ideas about what she should name her two daughters. “She wanted me to name my first daughter Amazing Grace,” says the mum. “But I would rather gargle broken glass and gasoline.” After declining the suggestion, the mum says that she was told it would make no difference. “She said ‘you can call her any name you want but I’m going to call her Mazie. Short for Amazing Grace.'” the mum revealed. To make matters worse, the family are currently living at the mother-in-law’s house on a temporary basis, making the disagreement a daily source of tension between them.

Keeping The Peace

Commenters on the post encouraged the mum to stand up to her mother-in-law. “I would not put up with this if I was you,” said one. “It’s disgusting and childish.” The mum, however, said she is determined to keep the peace until they are no longer living under the same roof. “I’m just trying to ride out the time we have to be here without making waves, until we’re gone,” she said.

Choosing a name for your child is never easy, especially when everybody has an opinion, but it’s even worse when someone refuses to respect your choice!

Did a family member disapprove of the name you chose for your child? Share your story in the comments.

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67 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 21 Feb 2023
    2:24 pm
I would be telling my husband that he needed to put his mother in her place and also we would be moving out asap.

- - mom19782016 said
  - 26 Apr 2020
    1:09 pm
Unfortunately, you can’t make anyone stop anything! She will just continue to call your children this when you are not in the room. I would explain to your kids that is a nickname that grandma uses and what their real names are.

- - DaffyD said
  - 20 Apr 2020
    1:22 pm
That’s a horrible situation. I never had any problems with my MIL and may kids names

- - mom462038 said
  - 05 Apr 2020
    11:22 am
What a petty woman! I didn’t like the name chosen for my niece and said I will be using her initials only. I didn’t, I got used to her name and used it

- - mom160289 said
  - 04 Apr 2020
    4:34 pm
How strange of the MIL indeed

- - JungleHeatMama said
  - 11 Mar 2020
    7:54 pm
So what did she end up calling her? It’s so confusing with all these she’s her she she she and I’m not sure who said what now -

- - rachel1970 said
  - 07 Mar 2020
    2:39 pm
This is shocking. They need to move out of that house as soon as possible. What a horrid mother in law.

- - rovermum said
  - 05 Mar 2020
    12:56 pm
Wow! This is so wrong and so disrespectful. I hope this Mum has the support of her husband. They both need to speak to the MIL and explain how disrespectful it is and how it’s not okay.

- - ThisIsMe said
  - 05 Mar 2020
    12:44 pm
Luckily I never had this issue but I think it is horrible to do that! Nickname based on the full name of the child I get like Matt for Matthew as an example but not something that YOU wanted the child to be called?!

- - tessie said
  - 05 Mar 2020
    10:58 am
This MIL should realise these are your children and they have a given name. It is rude, impolite and definitely childish to call the child something other than what she was named at birth. The sooner you can move out the better for your sanity

- - mom90758 said
  - 04 Mar 2020
    3:28 pm
Oh my. Very immature of the mother in law indeed. It’s a pity they are living with her at the moment. I would try to move out as soon as possible!

- - mumma said
  - 04 Mar 2020
    2:48 pm
Rude MIL. She had the chance to name her kids so don’t take that away from a new mum or disrespect the name choice.
My MIL fight with me about my daughters name and I will forever dislike her to this day for carrying on about continually.
Ps: my husband stood up for me
And her name is what we wanted it to be.

- - mom160421 said
  - 03 Mar 2020
    5:15 pm
This wouldn’t worry me. Lots of people within families have pet names for each other.

- - sars_angelchik said
  - 03 Mar 2020
    1:19 pm
so immature on the MIL’s behalf! You shouldn’t care what name your grandchild has – most grandparents are just happy they have a grandchild!

- - Ellen said
  - 03 Mar 2020
    8:48 am
This would annoy me too. I would ignore it and keep some distance when my MIL would behave like this.

- - anna213795 said
  - 03 Mar 2020
    7:05 am
Yes it would be annoying but I’d just ignore it and continue referring to them by their correct given name. Keep the peace until you are no longer dependent on living with her

- - mom343701 said
  - 03 Mar 2020
    5:56 am
I would try and not give it too much air or energy and maybe over time she will see it is more her issue than yours

- - Mumofboys said
  - 02 Mar 2020
    10:33 pm
I had family members disagree with the name I chose for my youngest son but his initials are RJ so usually they will call him that but I’m ok with that because it’s still his name just shortened

- - littlehandsofmine said
  - 02 Mar 2020
    9:26 pm
oh that’s tricky!

- - Amanda Holland said
  - 02 Mar 2020
    8:46 pm
I’m going to say mil is trying to cause friction