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February 7, 2007

Rachel Kubicek: Playing the name game

The great name debate is officially on. I envy those who are able to pick out a name and stick with it the entire pregnancy, knowing exactly what the birth certificate will say after delivery.

The problem is that we have picked a name, and there are a couple of issues with the final decision that have surfaced.

Many months ago, my husband suggested the name “Jack” and it seemed perfect. Therefore, I have been calling my belly Jack when I talk to, attempt to sing to (I have been told by my musically inclined brothers that it is cruel of me), or talk about him to others.

My husband, on the other hand, has yet to refer to the baby as Jack, which has been ultimately confusing to me about the entire baby-naming task. He has, instead, referred to the baby by several other words that I don’t exactly consider names.

You see, he spent almost eight years in North Carolina, serving in the Marines, attending college and settling down in the small town of Enfield, where he purchased a home. He had officially taken on the label of a good ol’ Carolina boy, complete with an accent, which still hasn’t gone away since moving back home to Missouri almost three years ago.

This accent and the slang that still lingers with him is starting to worry me with the whole choosing a name business. Our baby boy is not referred to as Jack when my husband talks to him. Instead, he has taken on names such as “Young’in,” “Lil’ Tot,” or “Buccaroo,” which in turn has started to worry me about the final draft of the birth certificate.

Don’t get me wrong. The accent my husband acquired from living in North Carolina for so long has always been endearing to me and at times beyond adorable; however, I am worried that the baby, who is supposed to be able to hear us now, will be confused about what his name is after he is born.

Every day I will e-mail him lists of alternate name choices, which he quickly shoots down. He is adamantly opposed to any name he feels will be mainstream when he is in school. He thinks we should stick with classic names that have been around for many years. I wholeheartedly agree and bring up that Jack is a great name. He is always in total agreement.

So then I think it is settled. Jack it is. Until the next time I see him and Jack has taken on yet another moniker.

Husband: How’s my Lil’ Whippersnapper?

Me: I thought we were calling him Jack.

Husband: We are. Whatcha up to in there, Lil’ Moppet?

Me: Jack.

Husband: I sure can’t wait to meet our little Small Fry.

Me: Jack. It’s Jack. He’s going to hear you. We have to start calling him by his name or he will have identity issues.

Husband: Don’t get your britches in a bunch.

Isn’t he cute?

During the alone time Jack and I have together, I have been reiterating to him that even though he may hear differently, he only has one name and that Daddy will come around and remember it eventually.



Address correspondence to Rachel Kubicek, c/o The Joplin Globe, P.O. Box 7, Joplin, Mo. 64802 or e-mail rkubicek@joplinglobe.com.

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