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Here, on the left in this faded photograph, is my Granny Beatrice. She was born 114 years ago today, 23rd September 1898.
This anniversary made me think about the difficult, sometimes painful, decision, that many women ultimately face: will you be Granny, Grandma, Grandmother...? They all sound so OLD!
My Granny had a secure & happy childhood
She was a clever girl who grew up...
...into a lovely young woman.
By the time I met her she had turned into a Granny - her life had been hard with much sadness.
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I loved her and she loved me - unconditionally. When I stayed at her house I slept in an old brass bed on a feather mattress with a feather eiderdown on top - and a stone hot water-bottle to warm my cold toes. She told me stories of her childhood and sang me to sleep with "Come into the Garden Maud". (Click on the link to share the experience.)
So, how do we see ourselves in the 2010s if grandchildren arrive? Do we ever feel old enough these days to be Grandmothers? My title was chosen for me - I'm Nana - and I like it.
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I love this post Nilly. The photographs are wonderful and your grandmother was very beautiful, both as a young woman and then when she was older.
ReplyDeleteI am also "Nana". My 2 step children knew my grandmother, who I always referred to as "loopy nana" ( compared to the other grandmother who wasn't quite so loopy). When the step children had children, they decided that I would inherit the loopy nana title. So 2 of my grandchildren actually have 3 grandmas.....granny Annie, Grandma Carole....and me....nana. So far, the grandchildren have not used the loopy bit.....time will tell.
I dont think we get any choice in what we're called, but saying that, my father refused to be called grandad by my daughter... he was always "Mike" to her. A great post...has really made me smile. J.
I'm sure I'm loopy Nana too, or at least not-normal-Nana! Like yours, our family is very extended & mixed up. My sister-in-law's gatherings are quite Bloomsbury-like, full of people who know each other in complicated ways!
DeleteHi
ReplyDeleteI'm not yet a grandmother but have decided that when (and if) I am one I shall be Nana or Nanny Ruth. I definitely don't want to be Grandma!
Nana is my favourite too - I was very relieved when they chose it - it doesn't sound quite as ancient as the others.
DeleteYour grandmother was certainly very beautiful - in a modern way too, with her strong face and gaze. I'm smiling at Janice being Nana - possibly even loopy Nana - and that her grandchildren have a granny Annie. I guess that will have to be me if I live long enough for any of my three to have their own children. I do so hope I do but they had better not leave it as long as I did! Many of my friends are already grandparents but my youngest is only 8, so I will have to hang on a while longer. I guess I will probably be heading for 70, which sounds old enough to be called anything at all. Our Spanish granny is called 'Yaya' which is quite nice... not quite 'Gaga'!
ReplyDeleteAxxx
Only one of my four children seems keen on having children himself - so maybe there won't be any more little ones. I had my youngest when I was 40 - it's been great being an older Mum. I've loved it.
DeleteHello:
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful evocation of your grandmother's life accompanied with the most splendid pictures. As we do not have children, the question does not actually arise. Our own grandmothers were always 'Granny' to us, the title if it had been would have been the preferred one.
Yes - Granny is very "cosy", like the best grannies are, and I would have probably chosen this too.
DeleteLovely photo's and memories. Nilly you must write more about your family.
ReplyDeleteWhen asked by my son what I wanted to be called - Grandma, Gran, Grandmama, Nan, Nanny, Nana etc.
I thought l'll be Poppy... I'm the mummy of their Pop... PLUS, and here comes the rub... Much less ageing, what!
Madam to the last - me.
LLX
I love reading about your family memories too, LL, and I have a boundless interest in looking at other people's family photos. Sadly not everyone does - I've caused a few glazed looks in my time when sharing memories, so I'll be careful to limit this sort of post to the odd tasty tit-bit.
DeleteI also enjoyed this post Nilly, as I love all you write about!
ReplyDeleteSuch nostalgic photographs and your Grandmother was indeed very beautiful!
I had this conversation with my dear Mum many moons ago and we came up with Nanny....
Do you know it just suited my Mum soo much!
Thanks for stopping by Nilly and can't quite believe you have ice all ready in Yorkshire....Keep warm won't you?
love Maria x
My boys chose Granny for their grandmothers - then, as they got older, this became Gran for the most serious sensible grandmother and stayed Granny for the cuddly, cosy one.
DeleteWhat another interesting post nilly, I love to look at old photographs especially with members of your own family in them. The quality of the paper, the sepia tones, the fact they are usually quite tattered all adds to the charm. Your grandmother was what my mother would call a handsome woman. I called mine Nana, I like it too. I have some gorgeous images of my mother's family, she was one of nine children. My nana would have been over 100years old now and I often think of the changes she saw in her lifetime. She went on a trip to New Zealand for six months on her own when she was seventy. jayne x
ReplyDeleteYour Nana sounds amazing. I have a friend like this who must impress her grandsons no end - she's Grandma by the way & is off to Cambodia next month!
DeleteMy grandmother was a Beatrice too, Beatrice Rose, but unfortunately I never met her as she died quite young. I use her image as my blog profile picture. Her beautiful hair in a top knot on her head reminds me of the can can dancers in the Belle Epoque era.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping for grand children, and I think they should call me Grand Mama, that should cause a stir :)
Jean x
I love that photo and I had wondered who she was. My Great Aunts had that hair style in photos from around 1910, but I think they had finer hair because theirs didn't look half so pretty. Grand Mama is great!
DeleteBeatrice was a beautiful woman..........and the most important thing in your post was the phrase "unconditional love". I also received that from my "grammie" and as "mimi" pass it on in same measure to my grandson. Now as he is getting older he sometimes calls me "Mim". And occasionally...
ReplyDelete"Gram Crackers"! hahahahaha! Have to keep them on their toes......
Gram Crackers is great!
DeleteI remember very well the confident feeling both my grandmothers gave me - I didn't have to do anything but just be me. That was enough for them.
What a wonderful post full of love for your granny. Too far off for me to think about the decision of grandma or granny or ...!
ReplyDeleteDear Jane - it's very true that the older you get, the more you look back and my generation actually knew Victorians! You are too young to be a granny and it's too soon for all that remembering...
DeleteMy grannies were known by their surnames: Granny Smith and Granny Murison. I am known as Granny Cathy. What beautiful photos you have there. Absolute treasures.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes called this Granny by the name of the place where she lived - Granny Reading. This is confusing when written down and not spoken - but gives a few good ideas for granny names: Granny Cooking, Granny Moaning, Granny Gossiping (now THAT would've been appropriate!)
DeleteNana Nilly sounds good to me.
ReplyDeleteI haven't had that conversation yet, but I think I might well be Grandmere England....
Julie x
Perhaps that cute kitten needs a Grandmere - you could use him for practise.
ReplyDeletexx