I have heard that my grandparents have done it. I know that my parents have done it, but I never thought I would be doing it. I always laughed when my mom or dad would blurt out the wrong child’s name when they wanted one of us. My dad would sometimes go through the list of names until he called out the right name. My mom would combine our names sometimes when she needed one of us. Jamie and Jart (my sisters names being Amy and Jen) were the two most spoken from my mother. I could tell when my parents forgot one of our names, combined them, or called us the wrong name it was because they were in a hurry or we were ticking them off.
I thought it was funny as a kid. I was amazed how my teachers were so great at remembering all the kids’ names and it seemed so effortless for them. My parents just had three names to remember and would sometimes mix up our names. I always thought that if I had kids it would never happen to me. When my first daughter was born it was fine. One name to remember or call out and that was it. No confusing one child’s name right? I passed that test.
When my youngest daughter came around that was a different story. I think the first month or so I was holding my youngest and I rocking her to sleep. I said to her softly, “Good night Lily.” My wife said, “You mean Jordan right?”
Wow! I messed up. I guess it didn’t take me long to follow my parents and grandparents with the name mix up. It wasn’t a big deal especially with a newborn and a two year old since they really wouldn’t correct you. Fast forward to the present and my daughters are 4 and 2. My oldest now calls me out on it. There have been times if I called out to the wrong name I might say, “Lily! I mean Jordan. Somebody.” Lily thought it was hilarious and she will yell out “Somebody,” when I call out the wrong name. The girls and I chuckle when I get called out on it. There are times I can hear my mom say Jamie or Jart when I mess up. Funny how you learn a lot from your parents and you don’t realize it right away.