What's in a Name.....

So yesterday was Gracie's first day of second grade. More importantly, it was her first day at a new school. Her third in three years, but new none-the-less.

So, there we are, meeting the teacher. Her super sweet teacher knew she had a nickname (Gracie is actually a nickname) and asked her, so what would you like me to call you? Gracie quickly responds "Clare." I looked at her....totally dumbfounded and said "but you haven't been called Clare, a day in your life. Will you even respond to that name?" She assured me that she would and that was that. She has started introducing herself as Clare to everyone. Her ballet teacher, classmates, bus driver and music teacher. So, now everyone here knows her only as Clare.

She said those of us who have called her Gracie all her life, can still continue to do so...but everyone new has to call her Clare. Ok. Her teacher said she's "exerting her independence." I say my baby is growing up!

I don't have a problem with the name Clare...if I did, we wouldn't have named her that....but she's Gracie. Always has been. I'm trying to get used to it. I try to call her Clare at home so I can get comfortable using the name with her, and not my friend Clare who she was named after. But old habits die hard. It's like I'm talking about someone totally different. Not to mention, it's still a nickname version of her first name. Her real name is Clara!

When I asked her why she suddenly wanted a name change she said "well, if Selma calls and says Gracie, I'll know it's Selma or one of my old friends. If Maddie calls and says Clare, I'll know it's one of my new friends." I asked "so do Maddie and Selma have the same voice?" and she responded with a very chipper "nope" and a sly smile. I have to give her credit...it was a clever excuse.

Oh well, it could be worse. My neighbor and I were laughing about Gracie.....I mean Clare's new love of her first name and she told me how her son Logan has also changed his name this year...nobody can call him anything but Boomer.

So for those of you who call her Gracie, she's fine with that...but anyone who meets her please refer to her as...Clare.

I am so totally seeing therapy in her future. Split personalities.

Other than that, second grade has turned out to be teriffic. She loves her teacher, loves her school, loves her uniform, loves her classmates....except Spencer....loves riding the bus. It's a regular lovefest. And Clare is growing up.