About Joanna Track
Four years ago, Sweetspot.ca Founder Joanna Track settled down with her darling husband and his two adorable young boys. She’s since added “new mom” to her long list of achievements with the addition of baby Teddy. Check back weekly for her tales of sweet family life.
What's In A Name?
canada
(Jan.29.09)
Lately I've been asked the same question over and over again. "Have you picked any names for your baby?". I find this quite bothersome for two reasons:
1. I'm finding the "name game" very overwhelming, so asking me only increases my anxiety.
2. If I did know, it would be none of your business!
It is one thing for my brother, mother, best friend to make the inquiry. It's another thing for the lady in the waiting room at the dentist's office to ask (yes, it happened just yesterday). And as most pregnant women have found out, everybody has an opinion on the matter (along with every other facet of pregnancy). So, hypothetically speaking, even if I had chosen a name, why would I share it only to get a blank stare, or, even worse, backhanded compliments like "Oh, well that's an interesting choice".
But not to worry folks, I have no intention of going too far out of the box. I have never been a fan of names that are unique just for the sake of being, well, unique. There will be no Apple's, Pilot Inspektor's, or Fifi Trixibelle's in my future (really, what are these people thinking? I can only assume they're not).
And while I do have a penchant for the "what's old is new again" type of names, such as Sadie, Max, or Rose, it seems they have become so new they are almost old again. And then there are the names that were new, but have been somewhat maxed out. It seems what "Jennifer" was to the 70's, "Madison" was to the 90's (further proof: my step-son has 4 Ethan's in his class).
If it sounds to you like I'm somewhat sensitive to names, you are correct. I have personally lived through the experience of having an old, yet not cool (nor coming back any time soon), name that year after year was a great source of laughter for my friends and classmates, and a source of sheer humiliation and horror for me. No, it's not Joanna. That is actually my middle name. That name is Ethel. It was after my grandmother, who sadly passed away just a few months before I was born. So while I respect the intentions of my parents, I still say "What the f$%^#k were you thinking??". Admittedly though, over the years it turned into a nickname so now it has become somewhat more endearing to me (kind of like an "ugly cute" baby).
So that gets me back to finding the moniker for this little one in my womb. Do I have any ideas? Yes, but I'm not naming names.