19 August 2010

Guess Not

Me: Maddie, what would you think if I called you Ramona?
Maddie: Ramona?!
Me: Yeah, Ramona.
Maddie: No, I like Beezus.
Me: Oh, really. OK. Beezus.
Maddie: No. Wait. What was the dog's name? The dog at the Ramona Quimby park?
Me: Ribsy.
Maddie: Yeah, that. I will be Ribsy.
Riley: I think I would like to be Apple. Apple Kim.

So much for that.

18 comments:

Karyn said...

That is completely hysterical, Stacey. That is so similar to conversations I've had with my girls. I guess it's a good thing four year olds don't have the power to name themselves... Apple and Ribsy are pretty awesome, though. I've often worried that Grace is the wrong name for Grace and wished we had given her the name Caroline (which is her middle name). I suppose she could always go by that if she chooses to. I don't know. It's just so much pressure to name other humans, isn't it?!

Lyndsay said...

I guess it wasn't meant to be!

Kim said...

At age four my now six year old announced his new name would be Pikachu Blackred. Know idea where that came from.

Kim said...

And I should proofread before I hit publish! Meant to say "no" not know. UGHH

mek said...

Awesome.
Personally, I am living with Hot Lava Girl most days.

Amber said...

I love it! :)

My kids all currently have variations on the name, Indiana Jones. Even my daughter, Claire, AKA Clairiana...

Jen said...

My daughter was three when she decided she was "Lisa". It lasted a good long time, and even still she often names new stuffed animals "Lisa". I love the insight this kind of play provides into identity and self-image. Am I still me if I have a different name?

Anonymous said...

Go, Maddie!

Christie said...

I forgot where I was and immediately started looking for the "like" button. This is awesome. And also is the perfect example of why it is so amazing to have kids.

Vanessa said...

When I was the twins' age and people would ask "What's your name, little girl?" I would look them in the eye and say "Jane." My mother would nearly fall over herself rushing to explain that my name wasn't Jane or even anything close to it. I think I got it from Eleanor Estes' Moffat books (Jane, the middle Moffat) but I can't remember anymore!

Dogs names said...

Ribsy, it is a dog or bitch name? I cannot tell.

Maura said...

I went by Annie for YEARS as a kid. Also "Maura Sunshine." The curly hair and obsession with everything Annie. I'm sure my parents loved it.

OTRgirl said...

Apple Kim! I love it.

What a great conversation.

Ah well, so much for Ramona. That's the (good) problem with kids, they make it SO hard to live vicariously through them.

watercolordaisy said...

I almost posted this last time but didn't....

My mother's first name is Loretta and she went by that that until kindergarten when somehow her friends shortened it to Retta which my mother LOVED. My evil grandmother hated it though and forced her to go by her middle name, Kay, from that point forward. Although mom is now "Kay," when she tells the story she gets a sad wistful look on her face that is heart breaking.

I think it was very hurtful for her name to be changed on her so young. As if her very identity was removed. It has been a vivid memory her entire life.

Maddie is Maddie. For whatever reason she is and it is good.

watercolordaisy said...

Oh, I don't say my grandmother is evil because of the name change thus implying you would be, too. I just realized I typed that at all. The woman is truly evil and abusive. You are not.

Christine said...

Apple and Ribsy? Cute!

Sure, maybe not what you were going for, but I think they make perfectly fine nicknames, although I would have guessed Ribsy for Riley, but what are you going to do.

Violet said...

What a hilarious follow up! Thank you for sharing!

django's mommy said...

A friend of the family was born in Burma/Myanmar during the civil war there, and therefore was not named as a baby (other than 'Baby'). She got to name herself when she was 4 or 5... her name is Primrose. Hee.

I kinda like Apple Kim.