E and L have occasionally called each other "El" or "Lor" for a few years now. I'm not a nickname fan, but it hasn't bothered me. HOWEVER. They've started to call C "Char" and I can't. I don't like it. I never intended for her to be nicknamed and I don't like Char. (I am TRULY SORRY if your name is Char. Different strokes, right?) This is the downfall to thinking I'll just correct people when they use a shortened version of her name. I can only correct HER SISTERS so many times before they start using it for the express purpose of annoying me. For the record, THEY are the only people who call her Char and despite my mild, casual request that they stop and C's request to be nicknamed "Lottie" (only slightly better), they persist. I think this will be a battle I'll choose not to fight, but I cringe with every Char.
I followed a knitting pattern!
This is my practice for knitting an actual place mat. I cut all the numbers on the pattern in half, so my final piece is half as small vertically and horizontally as a real place mat would be. It turned out pretty well, though, and I'm pleased. Not bad for a beginner.
When I picked C up from school on Tuesday, her teacher told me that she had a very runny nose, was coughing, and cried easily. It's the first time someone has been sick since I started working day shift, so we put our theoretical sick day chain into practice. Luckily, my FIL didn't have anything planned on Wednesday, so A dropped her off that morning and she spent the day blowing her nose and playing on his iPad. We kept her home on Thursday, too, and A worked from home, but looking back I think she could have gone to school. It's hard to make that call in the 30-45 minutes between wake up and walking out the door. Anyway, this is one of the things I've been dreading and it went pretty smoothly, all things considered. She was, OF COURSE, fine to go to school today on my day off.
I've been feeling rushed and stressed for the past week and needed a pajama day, so I spent the morning in my PJs. I knitted, caught up on blogs, and did a few things around the house. It was nice and relaxing. I did a double class at the Y before picking the kids up from school. We cleaned the fish tank, they did homework and played the wii, I knitted, made brinner, etc. It was the kind of day I've been needing. I'm working myself up for my work Christmas party tomorrow night. I like the people I work with, but this awkward small talk thing at an official gathering is a nightmare for me. Plus, there are names I don't know, so I've warned A that I'll have to do that thing where I say,"Oh hi! This is my husband, A!" and hope they supply their name.
Great job on your mini-placemat! I love the yarn you chose, too.
Posted by: Christine | January 18, 2013 at 10:10 PM
I know how you feel (although personally I think Char is cute). I call my L Lore or Lulu and love both nicknames but my mom calls her Laurey and I hate it. I nearly didn't give her that name I was so worried about that nickname. I've tried to get her to stop but it slips out from time to time without her thinking... I try to pick my battles but for some reason that gets my goat.
Posted by: Bonnie | January 19, 2013 at 06:20 AM
YES. Often on the name blog people will reassure each other that it's fully possible to keep people from using a nickname. And it SORT OF is. But...as you say.
Posted by: Swistle | January 19, 2013 at 08:22 AM
Oh! Another story. One of my boys could theoretically have his name shortened to something girlish; it's the equivalent of him being named Elliot and I guess people COULD call him Elle or Ellie--but we assumed no one actually WOULD, because in the case of his name the nickname is even less obvious than Elliot/Ellie. And then in our New Parents class, the instructor called him Ellie. We were like "Ooooooooooooooo nooooooooooooo"---but then fortunately no one else has ever done it.
Posted by: Swistle | January 19, 2013 at 08:24 AM
Ooooh nickname battles. My eldest is Thomas and people attempt to call him Tom or Tommy from time-to-time and he says to them through gritted teeth..."My name is Thomas, not Tommy, not Tom, THOMAS." (And if you knew him you would know that he is not a Tommy - the kid was born acting like an adult). Ultimately I believe it should be up to the child them self. We are actually quite strict about respecting peoples names in our house - you are not allowed to call anyone a name that they don't like. Our younger two do go by nicknames, Theo (Theodore) and Annie or Banana (Anna).
Also a PJ day followed by a good workout sounds divine. I could really use one of those.
Posted by: Gina | January 21, 2013 at 03:53 PM
so. i have a name that is difficult to nickname....so when we were picking the names for the kids i specifically considered what the nicknames might be. no one tells you that there will be other nicknames that come about, do they? ha!
and i want a pj day!! i have slippers on in my office today, actually, since the "heater" is blowing air that is arctic!!!
Posted by: april | January 23, 2013 at 12:23 PM
I am not one for nicknames in general. My twins are Miranda and Rebecca. They go by their full names for the most part. We do shorten them on occasion to Randa and Becca. I really and truly do not want Revecca to be called Becky. It sounds too much Ike my maiden name, which I couldn't wait to be rid of when I got married. When people call her Becky, I cringe and throw up a little in my mouth. She is too much of a people pleaser to correct them but I never fail to do it and do it quickly!
Posted by: Michelle | January 24, 2013 at 03:09 AM