My Mom Tried to Force Me to Name My Baby After Her, the Truth Still Haunts Me

Naming your baby is such a special moment. Some parents like to name their child after people they admire, like their parents, grandparents, or other idols. In Joan’s case, she idolized her grandma. But her mom wasn’t too happy about that, and here’s how the story unfolded.

This is Joan’s struggle with her mom.

Hi Bright Side,

When I was pregnant with my baby girl, my mom insisted that she take her name, Robin. She always tried to control my choices. But, I wanted to name her Ellie, after my grandma. I thought it was a prettier name and rang better than Robin. My mom was really upset but she needed to suck it up.

Ellie was born and my mother hasn’t spoken to me yet. It was only after two weeks that she finally contacted me and acted like nothing had happened. She bought Ellie gifts and spoiled her like any loving grandma would.

It wasn’t until a few days later that my grandma called me and told me why my mom didn’t like the name. She confessed that she wasn’t exactly there for her. Even though my grandma put up a face and showed me that she loved me, she secretly treated my mom unfairly and favored my aunt more. I didn’t realize this.

So, I called my mom to tell her that I didn’t know and apologize but once I brought Grandma Ellie up she ignored my questions and talked about my daughter instead. Is there a way I can fix things with my mom again?

Sincerely,
Joan

Here’s what the Bright Side Team thinks.

Hello Joan,

Thank you for sharing your story with us. Your child’s name should be solely you and your husband’s decision. You brought this baby into the world; you get the naming privilege, not your mom. Aside from that, asking you to name your daughter after her seems a tad selfish. She could’ve offered different options that you might’ve considered at the moment.

Regarding her past, you’re not at fault. If she has issues with you naming your daughter after your grandmother, she has to deal with it independently. Her unresolved issues do not mean you have to change your daughter’s name.

Nonetheless, if you do still feel guilty for naming your daughter after someone who hurt your mother, the most you can do is contact her and simply apologize to her. At the end, you weren’t aware and just wanted a prettier name.

If you thought Joan’s mom was bad, just check out this woman’s husband who secretly changed the baby’s name to her MIL’s name at a moment when she’s exhausted from all the childbirth. Naming your baby should always be a joint discussion and shouldn’t resort to these secrets.