OFFICIALLY "GAGA"

When I became a grandmother almost two years ago, I wondered what my granddaughter, Charley Ellen, would call me. I really didn’t want to be just “Grandma”, it was a little too normal for this rebel & “Grandma Kathy” just sounded kind of silly to me.

Thirty-five years ago, my son, Darrin, made up a name for my mother – for some reason “Grandma” came out of his two year old mouth as “Dupda”. She was forever known as “Dupda” which was later shortened to “Dup”.

After a visit to Lou’s family in Germany, I learned that “Oma” is a casual, endearing term for “Grandma” in German. I liked it so we began referring to me as “Oma”.

Charley at 18 months old - I took these photos one evening when her parents were out to dinner.

 

What a little cutie!

When Charley was 17 months old, she called me “Oma” twice at a family gathering. The first time was when I was involved in a conversation & not paying attention to her. She said, “Oma!” as she handed me a ball. That same day, her mom said she was in the kitchen & yelled, “Oma, Oma” then ran into the other room where I was sitting. As you might expect, it was a highlight of my year!

BUT, Charley hasn’t called me “Oma” in the four months since then. We still referred to me as “Oma”, only Charley wasn’t buying it.

She is now three months shy of her second birthday & a couple weeks ago, she started calling me “Gaga” – she would point at me & say “Gaga”. We’d try to say, “Oma” but to no avail.

This was taken today at 21 months old. It is getting harder & harder to take photos because she immediately comes over to play with the camera. She was watching an Elmo video on Mom's iPad.

Charley loves her Elmo videos! This shows all the little blonde curls that she is getting.

This past Saturday we had a pool party at our house which they told Charley about the day before, saying we are going to a party at Oma & Lou’s house. She knows Lou & calls him by name. She also knows my father as Pop, just as her daddy called him.

Allison emailed & said, “I think you are officially Gaga now.” She said Charley has been walking around saying, “Gaga, Lou, Pop” for a day. At the pool party a few days ago, Charley did indeed officially decide I was “Gaga”.

And I love it! Having your granddaughter decide to give you a name of her choosing is a real honor. Quite honestly, it’s a pretty cool name, too. Who knew that with the popularity of Lady Gaga, I could share a little of it with my granddaughter?

From here on out, I am proud to be known as “Gaga” in the world of Charley Ellen.