Mum’s Guilt: Baby Name Regret After 18 Months
- Replies 16
If you’re a parent, you know that making decisions for your children is not always a walk in the park. It can be overwhelming and, at times, fill you with uncertainty.
This is a feeling shared by many parents, including one who recently took to Reddit to share her experience with baby name regret.
The mother had named her daughter Genevieve Iris, a beautiful name that she thought would be perfect for her little one. However, after 18 months, she began to realise that the two names sounded a lot like the word 'virus' when said together.
'I kept thinking the anxiety over her name might have been due to postpartum depression, and I had hoped the negative feelings around the name would subside,' she wrote.
'Unfortunately, they haven't, and I still feel a huge amount of regret. I feel like I have let my daughter down.'
This story might strike a chord with many parents and grandparents who have faced similar situations. Naming a child is a big responsibility, and it's not uncommon to second-guess a decision.
How did this happen, you ask? Apparently, the mum and her husband had been in a rush to fill out the birth certificate at the hospital, which resulted in them choosing the name Genevieve without fully considering how it might sound.
Although they both loved the name at the time, they soon discovered that it sounded a lot like 'Jenny vee virus' when said together. The mother also mentioned that it had been a hassle constantly explaining how to spell and pronounce her daughter's name.
It's heartening to see the online community come together to offer support and advice for a mother who was struggling with baby name regret. Many parents chimed in with their own experiences and solutions, making the conversation relatable and helpful.
Some mums pointed out that nicknames can make a name easier to pronounce, and offered a list of options for the mother to consider. They also reassured her that middle names are often overlooked and that, as the child gets older, the name issue is likely to fade away.
'I cannot recall the last time I said my kids' middle names or even my own. It's a non-issue,' one mum wrote in the comments.
Others shared practical advice based on their own experiences, with one mum suggesting that the mother could start using her daughter's middle name exclusively, as her niece's mother had done.
The switch happened at 18 months, and it quickly became a non-issue, with the child growing to love her new name. 'She suits her middle name and loves it - her birth name literally never comes up,' said a fellow parent.
While a few people suggested that it wasn't too late to change the name altogether.
'It is not too late to change the name. If they're still feeling regret after 18 months, just rip the band-aid off and change it - the sooner the better,' someone suggested.
That's exactly what this mum ended up doing.
'We're keeping Genevieve as we still appreciate its beauty and versatility. We've agreed to drop Iris and have picked a different bilingual middle name that has the added bonus of having a family connection,' she wrote.
These responses show the power of community and how it can help parents navigate challenging situations. The online community is a great resource for advice and support, and it's reassuring to know that you're not alone when it comes to parenting.
In the woman's post, one of the comments suggested that what she might be feeling is 'mum guilt' - a nagging feeling of self-doubt and regret that can creep in at any moment. Many mothers, especially first-timers, can relate to this.
‘Mum guilt’ is often caused by the pressure to be a perfect mother.
As a parent, there's an expectation to be constantly nurturing, attentive, and selfless, all while juggling other responsibilities like work and household chores. It's easy to feel like you're falling short of these expectations, which can lead to feelings of guilt and shame.
Other common causes of ‘mum guilt’ include feeling like you're not spending enough time with your children, not doing enough to help them succeed, or not meeting their emotional or physical needs. Is this something you have experience? Perhaps ‘dad guilt’?
Members, what are your thoughts on this story? Do you think the name 'Genevieve Iris' has an awkward ring to it? Or do you think the mum might be overthinking things?
We'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences on this. Have you ever been in a similar situation? Have you ever regretted a baby name you chose? Or maybe you have a unique baby name story that you'd like to share?
Let's start a conversation in the comments below and share our stories!
This is a feeling shared by many parents, including one who recently took to Reddit to share her experience with baby name regret.
The mother had named her daughter Genevieve Iris, a beautiful name that she thought would be perfect for her little one. However, after 18 months, she began to realise that the two names sounded a lot like the word 'virus' when said together.
'I kept thinking the anxiety over her name might have been due to postpartum depression, and I had hoped the negative feelings around the name would subside,' she wrote.
'Unfortunately, they haven't, and I still feel a huge amount of regret. I feel like I have let my daughter down.'
One mother regrets giving her daughter the name 'Genevieve Iris' since it is too similar to the word 'virus'. Credit: Pexels/Juan Pablo Serrano Arenas.
This story might strike a chord with many parents and grandparents who have faced similar situations. Naming a child is a big responsibility, and it's not uncommon to second-guess a decision.
How did this happen, you ask? Apparently, the mum and her husband had been in a rush to fill out the birth certificate at the hospital, which resulted in them choosing the name Genevieve without fully considering how it might sound.
Although they both loved the name at the time, they soon discovered that it sounded a lot like 'Jenny vee virus' when said together. The mother also mentioned that it had been a hassle constantly explaining how to spell and pronounce her daughter's name.
It's heartening to see the online community come together to offer support and advice for a mother who was struggling with baby name regret. Many parents chimed in with their own experiences and solutions, making the conversation relatable and helpful.
Some mums pointed out that nicknames can make a name easier to pronounce, and offered a list of options for the mother to consider. They also reassured her that middle names are often overlooked and that, as the child gets older, the name issue is likely to fade away.
'I cannot recall the last time I said my kids' middle names or even my own. It's a non-issue,' one mum wrote in the comments.
Others suggested the mum could either change her daughter's nickname or even her middle name to something else more suitable. Credit: Pexels/Josh Willink.
Others shared practical advice based on their own experiences, with one mum suggesting that the mother could start using her daughter's middle name exclusively, as her niece's mother had done.
The switch happened at 18 months, and it quickly became a non-issue, with the child growing to love her new name. 'She suits her middle name and loves it - her birth name literally never comes up,' said a fellow parent.
While a few people suggested that it wasn't too late to change the name altogether.
'It is not too late to change the name. If they're still feeling regret after 18 months, just rip the band-aid off and change it - the sooner the better,' someone suggested.
That's exactly what this mum ended up doing.
'We're keeping Genevieve as we still appreciate its beauty and versatility. We've agreed to drop Iris and have picked a different bilingual middle name that has the added bonus of having a family connection,' she wrote.
These responses show the power of community and how it can help parents navigate challenging situations. The online community is a great resource for advice and support, and it's reassuring to know that you're not alone when it comes to parenting.
‘Mum guilt’ is a normal part of motherhood, and most mothers experience it at some point. Credit: Pexels/Jonathan Borba.
‘Mum guilt’ is often caused by the pressure to be a perfect mother.
As a parent, there's an expectation to be constantly nurturing, attentive, and selfless, all while juggling other responsibilities like work and household chores. It's easy to feel like you're falling short of these expectations, which can lead to feelings of guilt and shame.
Other common causes of ‘mum guilt’ include feeling like you're not spending enough time with your children, not doing enough to help them succeed, or not meeting their emotional or physical needs. Is this something you have experience? Perhaps ‘dad guilt’?
Members, what are your thoughts on this story? Do you think the name 'Genevieve Iris' has an awkward ring to it? Or do you think the mum might be overthinking things?
We'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences on this. Have you ever been in a similar situation? Have you ever regretted a baby name you chose? Or maybe you have a unique baby name story that you'd like to share?
Let's start a conversation in the comments below and share our stories!
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