My dad is being weird about being called "Grandpa"

Dec 91 min read

So my son is 3 months old and my parents live nearby. My dad keeps getting irritated when people call him grandpa - he wants people to call him by his first name instead. Which... okay, his choice? But it's creating this weird dynamic where my son's grandpa is actively avoiding the title. My mom thinks he's going through something but won't talk about it.

Part of me thinks this is about his age and feeling old, part of me thinks I should just let it go. But my wife finds it annoying that her FIL is being weird about his relationship to his grandson. Anyone dealt with something like this? How'd you handle it?

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Comments(5)

MMarcus L.RegularDec 10

I'd be more concerned about the 'irritated' part than the actual preference. That's a boundary he's allowed to have but getting irritated at a 3 month old's parent situation is him making it about his feelings. Has he said why he actually cares this much?

SStan D.RegularDec 10

lol this is peak older dad energy - wants to be called by his first name like it'll make him feel younger. Wait til your kid is 5 and just yelling 'Grandpa!' across a parking lot. That name's sticking whether he likes it or not.

MMarcus J.RegularDec 10

That's... a weird hill for a grandparent to die on honestly. Like your dad's choice what he wants to be called but also your 3 month old doesn't have opinions yet - he's being weird for no reason. Is this a vanity thing or is there actual backstory?

GGary R.RegularDec 11

My FIL wanted the same thing. Kid is 4 now and literally nobody respects it because 'grandpa' is what kids naturally call that role. Your dad's gonna learn that his preference loses to what's functionally easier for a toddler.

RRob K.RegularDec 11

The nice approach is to try respecting his choice with other adults. But when your kid is old enough to talk, they're gonna call him grandpa because that's what their brain does. Your dad's gonna have to make peace with that eventually.