Last night, I learned that PK is being teased because of her name at school. Her real name is Piper. We all know Piper rhymes with Diaper. Looking back, it was only a matter of time.
Talk about a blow to my heart, I'm so sad that kids are being mean to my daughter and I'm not there to defend her. After talking to her about it, I feel she's taking it in stride at this point. She says it's not everyone, just 3 kids.
At this point, she still likes her name and loves to go to school. Let's cross our fingers that it stays that way and this name thing blows over fairly quickly.
Now, I know that there is never a time where taunting and teasing on the playground is appropriate. One of my greatest fears for my girls is they would be a victim of bullying; or worse yet, be the mean girl. {cringe}
It's ironic that I've learned of this teasing the very same week that I've willed myself to figure out what baby #3 is going to be named. As of right now, I have 2 lukewarm options for the girl name, a big ZERO in the boy department. I have 5 weeks to figure this out.
I love unique names, and assumed that we would give this new baby a simple yet off the beaten path type of name. But, after hearing my daughter cry over her name; I'm second guessing my choices.
Suddenly, names like John, Jim, Sarah and Susan aren't sounding so bad after all. (not saying they are bad, just common.)
When you named your kids? Did you think of all the playground possibilities? I mean really, it's not like I'm going to name it Mary Juana, Candy Cane or Dusty Rhodes. I'm not stupid - just a little clueless on what to do this time around.
Perfectly Timed Teasing?
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
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29 comments:
Tue Oct 13, 02:02:00 PM
oh, i am so sorry. I can't imagine how hard that would be to deal with.
I LOVE your daughters names and they will too.
Tue Oct 13, 02:04:00 PM
I love the girls' names! mean kids these days. ps... i sent them a little halloween pick me up this morning. look for it.
Tue Oct 13, 02:06:00 PM
I too am sorry to hear this is happening to Piper, but am glad she seems to be handling it well.
Here is why we chose the names Charlotte and Mary for our daughters. As to the why, well, we wanted to honor 2 women who were strong in faith and character that could set examples for our daughters lives. So clearly, I think namesakes are an important factor for choosing names.
Tue Oct 13, 02:19:00 PM
I tried to think of things they could be taunted about but in the end I just chose what I wanted because childhood doesn't last forever and one day when they are older they will really like their really cool names. So I have a Eli, a Cash, and a Stella.
Tue Oct 13, 02:24:00 PM
Kids will come up with a way to make fun of any name if they want to. So I say, go with what feels right to you.
Tue Oct 13, 02:41:00 PM
Ooh! Susan! Go with Susan! The worst I had to deal with was being called "Boozin' Susan Cruisin' for a Bruisin'". And that wasn't until high school. And let's face it, I probably brought it on myself. (Between you and me, I don't know any little girls named Susan. I'm just sayin'....)
Tue Oct 13, 02:43:00 PM
Oh, and by the by, Piper also rhymes with Viper, which is just plain cool.
Tue Oct 13, 02:52:00 PM
One day after day camp this past summer Jonas came home and told me a kid called him "stupid". I was raging. I wanted to call the kids mom and yell. Then I realized this was just my first taste of all of that school kid stuff, and I was better to talk to J about how awesome he really is. Im not ready for more of that!
Tue Oct 13, 03:07:00 PM
All kids get teased about something. It's either our name (first or last) a physical or mental attribute or because of our family/home life. My personal rule for picking a name is imagining an introduction for a job interview. Can people spell it after only have heard it and can people pronounce it if they see it? I know I'm uncomfortable to call someone in for an interview if I'm not sure how to say their name.
Tue Oct 13, 03:50:00 PM
i agree with punkinmama, kids will make fun of whatever name you give your child. i was called 'airhead' out of erin. now that doesn't even make sense!
Tue Oct 13, 04:13:00 PM
Naming baby #3 aside ('cause I've already sent you my best), you cannot and will not change the hearts of the tormentor. But, you can continue to teach and mold the hearts of your girls. Coming from a guy named Amos, which rhymed perfectly with anus until late Sr. High, focus on guiding the response of your own to love their accusers. I didn't always do that perfectly, but I did do it well. Now I get compliments on my name almost weekly and I rarely have to use my last name in business settings because they are so few Amoss around. I vote unique names. But, only as unique as your baby. You'll know. My parents did and they weren't as intentional as you and Michael. Whatever name you pick will be perfect. -Mr. Blonde
Tue Oct 13, 04:33:00 PM
I agree with Amos. Unique names are good. Of course when I decided to name my first Tucker, I didn't see it in any baby book nor had I heard anyone else named Tucker. (And yes, we thought about the possibly traumatic playground fodder it could bring.)
Good luck to you and PK with the name games.
Tue Oct 13, 05:27:00 PM
I did think of it, like, I LOVE the name Harry, but would people call him Hairy? And if you think about it, that's really not even that mean of a nickname. What's so bad about hairy?
But I am HOPINGHOPING that GRAY doesn't have any problems with, you know, GAY or GAYSON. There's a big one to rhyme with CARTER yet I haven't heard of any teasing yet. :)
I imagine no matter what the name, if a kid wants to be mean, they'll turn it into whatever they want.
I was called StepOnMe but that was more a fun nickname.
Stuffy Steffy notsomuch.
Steph
Tue Oct 13, 05:27:00 PM
I say stick with a unique name. I'm a girl named Kodie (my mom didn't find out my gender when she was pregnant but swore up and down that I was a boy because, according to her, "only a male could cause her this much pain.") and I love my name. Yes, I got teased as a kid but I just brushed it off. When kids told me I had a boy name I simply told them it was obviously a girl's name too since I was a girl. I've only ever known of 2 other girls with the same name as me. And now that I'm older, people always comment on how cool my name is.
If I ever have kids I know I'll give them unique names because they'll grow up to appreciate it just like I did.
Tue Oct 13, 05:54:00 PM
It seems like kids will ALWAYS figure out a way to tease others about their names. You know, the rude kids, that is!
I was Elaine the Pain, although I think it was just my own brothers who called me that...; )
I imagine if she ignores them the name calling will subside (at least I certainly hope so!)
And you should choose whatever name you want and love for your new baby!
Tue Oct 13, 06:16:00 PM
yes, as a teacher I thought of the playground scenarios and still named our little girl Piper;0) They're going to get teased over anything and everything. I still remember the "Jenny - Penny" teasing I got in grade school. I'd definitely go with unique, she'll love it later!.... hopefully ;0)
Tue Oct 13, 08:05:00 PM
Please tell her for me: She has the BEST NAME EVER.
Tue Oct 13, 08:37:00 PM
the sad part about this is there will always be mean people. Piper is cool!! My 2nd oldest is Skylar but goes by Skye - a few years ago a little boy in her class started in that Skylar was a boys name.. out of her mouth came "do I look like a boy?"
And i've found that when sometimes dealing with the parents of a tormentor "it's never worth getting into a pissing match with a skunk!!".. Tell Piper to stand proud she's so special to have this great name!!
Tue Oct 13, 08:51:00 PM
awww...i know the feeling. ashtin came home from school today and said she cried at school because her friends wouldn't play with her outside. my heart just sank feeling so bad for her...and she's only 5. btw, i love both of your daughters names and can't wait to learn of the third. I'm sure it will be awesome!
- julie
Tue Oct 13, 08:55:00 PM
It doesn't matter wha tname you give them- there will always be kids who tease. They will find something about your name, your hair, your eyes... if they determine that you "deserve" their ridicule, they will find a way to make it happen.
Choose the name that feels right and best for you and your family dynamic.
We wanted something unique for our daughter and ended up with Teagan. We struggled and struggled with names for our boy. He was going to be named after his dad- but then Jeff decided "Zachary" might be better.
Tue Oct 13, 08:56:00 PM
WORST NAME EVER = Terdius.
Yes, terdius.
Just don't name your kid Terdius and you'll always know that you kid doesn't have the worst name in the world. Terdius will always beat your kids name to that distinction.
And no, I'm not named Terdius, but a boy on my block growing up was. No, I'm not joking, he was named TERDIUS. Are you kidding me!
Tue Oct 13, 08:59:00 PM
That is so horrible :( Poor Piper (which I think is an awesome name, btw!)
My oldest daughters name is Aliyah, and my hub calls her Aliyah diarrhea (he's just a peach, lol)and I don't think that much rhymes with my other kids names.
It's so hard being a mama, isn't it?
Tue Oct 13, 10:35:00 PM
Oh my heart broke just a little. I REALLY thought about the names that I named my boys.
Wed Oct 14, 12:15:00 AM
Poor Piper! I love her name. From what you put on your blog, it seems to suit her! We went with traditional names which also are both family names, that had a variety of shortened nickname options... but we are very conservative with the names we like. Robert is our first son, but it's a family name and was never really up for debate. We call him Robbie, but he could choose to go by Rob or anything else as he grows up. We named our daughter Elizabeth, but with the intention of calling her Ellie. She too can choose tons of variations on her name if she doesn't love Elizabeth or Ellie... liz, beth, eliza... etc. We struggled with her name though! Good luck, and just remember that kids will call each other names regardless of what names YOU choose for your children. It's not something you can totally shield your kids from, so enjoy the naming process and I'm excited to see what you decide on!
Wed Oct 14, 01:07:00 AM
I with all of the others in saying that kids will find a way to tease no matter what. I love the name Piper, and lobbied actively for it to be added to the list of names considered for our 4th child. We have C.ooper A.very, M.aren D.elaney, Q.uinn A.ubrey, and B.riar K.iley (boy, girl, girl, girl and without the periods - obviously . . . damn my in-laws for figuring out how to use Google.) Hubby was adament when choosing names that they be relatively tease-free . . . and yet he agreed on a name that rhymes with 'Pooper'. No matter what you choose, it will be perfect! (And I say go with unique . . . they may never be able to find personalized pencils, but they won't be one of the 6 kids in their class who has to have their last name attached to everything they do to be differentiated from the pack.)
Wed Oct 14, 08:29:00 AM
You are smart, like you said, and it won't be too easy for kids to think of something to rhyme the name. But they will think of something no matter what. And it just might be something cool like Susan said. Or it could be random and not rhyme at all like, "Mert" for example:)
Wed Oct 14, 09:57:00 AM
I think that no matter what your name is, a "mean" boy or girl will find a way to make fun of it. It breaks my heart to see my oldest daughter 9 fight with her friends and come home crying...I just wish there was a way to keep them locked up in the house until they were 30 and could fight for themselves, lol.
Wed Oct 14, 08:49:00 PM
Oh, pish. Piper is a lovely name! I never think about the playground when I am thinking about baby names. FWIW, I have an Anthony, a Maria and a Veronica. Their last name is short, so I can really front load. It will always, always be something with rotten little kids.
Thu Oct 15, 04:34:00 PM
Poor little girl! Kids can be so heartless. I think Piper is a beautiful name.
We did consider the "playground possibilities" when we named our girls, but we didn't put too much weight on it. After all, kids can come up with anything if they want to be mean...
stephanie@metropolitanmama.net
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