[talk: My Name.]

I love nicknames ... our home is full of them.

All of us have 3 syllable first names (yup - that was planned ...).  So those names can all be shortened:  Mattias is Tias, Josiah is Siah, Katia is Taya or Kat (thanks hubby - you promised that wouldn't happen *wink*).  We also call Tias "monkey",  Siah "silly boy" and Taya "Boo-bear".

I love nicknames.  I think they show love and friendship  ... as long as they're kind ones.  They're a term of endearment.  They're special.  They show relationship.

I had a bunch of nicknames as I was growing up ... My dad called me "Mrs. Jones" ever since I can remember - which was really funny when I dated a guy for a few weeks with that same last name *grin*.   My brother was "little green truck" ... Tias became "toad", Siah "goofas" and Katia "angel face".  My  dad loves nicknames too.

In elementary school, I actually told people my name was Tanya ... I hated my own 3syllable "Tawn-ee-yah" name.  No one could pronounce it.  So - I was Tanya to a lot of people for a while ... 

Then jr high came ... and along with it came the need to have a unique name.  So I instantly became a member of the Name Police and would fine anyone who said my name wrong.  It was annoying for me, annoying for my friends.  Having a name that no one could remember to pronounce correctly was frustrating.

So, my friends in high-school started giving me nicknames - probably because they were afraid I would ticket them for saying my real name incorrectly *grin* (that's a joke.).  I was called by my last name a lot (my maiden name, that is) ... in all sorts of bizarre combos.  I was called Spunky.  I was called Pebbles (because I used to twirl a pencil in my hair like the bone that Pebbles on Flintstones did ... ) ... I was called Shorty, Stumpy, Little One ... My boyfriend in high-school ... he always, always called me Tania - the right way.

Friends started calling me Tawn around then too.  In fact, when I introduced myself I often said, "Hi - I'm Tania (Taw-nee-yah), but you can call me Tawn."  And that spelling?  It just happened once I got online.  "Tan" doesn't work - it's the wrong pronunciation.    "Ton" looks weird.   So Tawn it became.

In my early 20's my boyfriend at the time gave me another nickname, and all my friends in that group adopted it - so I was called Tawny.  I had an uncle who called me that too ... he was the only adult who ever did.   I don't know where he came up with it - but when he called me Tawny, I loved it.   He passed away a few years ago - and I miss being called that by him.  No one calls me that anymore.

Now - I get called a bunch of things.  My brother always, always calls me "T".  "Hey T," he'll say.  I like that.  I'm not sure when it started, but it's special to me.  And my hubby has a couple of good friends that call me TDot.  Strange.  Maybe.  But I like it ... I feel like their little sister.  Or should I say, smaller sister :-).  Some of my friends that are a part of the worship team at my church call me T-Dawg.  **shaking head**.  REALLY don't know where that came from ... but I like it just the same.

I once read that a girl's favourite word to hear, is her name.  I totally think so ... maybe - for me - it's because only a few people in this world say it right.  So when I hear it said correctly - it melts me.  Strange.   And it's not just that - there are people who try to say it properly, but it sounds ... strained?  I can have my back to someone, and have them say my name perfectly - and I know that I've known them forever.  I feel like they know me.  It's a strange thing ...

My hubby?  He calls me Tawn.  I've given him a million lessons on how to say my name and he THINKS he says it properly.  After almost 14 years together - it's still not right.  Ahhh well.  Tawn is just fine.

So.  That's my post on nicknames.  

What do you like to be called?  Do you have nicknames for you kids?  Or are you a "I named my child Maria, and Maria she shall be called ..." kind of a person?

Have a great one :-).