Choosing a name for your baby is one of the first big decisions that you'll make as a parent, and it can be a pretty challenging one...especially if you're getting pressure from family members. Just because a certain name sounds good to you doesn't mean your loved ones are going to feel the same way — and they might not be shy about letting you know!
In a video posted on June 7, an expecting mom is sitting on a couch with her own two parents, and she's about to play one of the funniest pranks ever. She tells them she's going to read from a list of potential baby names so they can give her their opinions, a gesture most grandparents would appreciate. Little did grandma and grandpa know their daughter secretly found a bunch of very unconventional names just to mess with them!
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"They were not fans of any LOL," wrote Dani Austin . Their reactions were absolutely priceless ! They were totally trying to be open-minded, at least at first. By the end, the grandmother was ready to take matters into her own hands!
Related: Daughter Tearfully Shares With Mom She’s Naming Son After Her at Baby Shower
As frustrated as this grandma and grandpa were, though, they would most likely be supportive of whatever name their daughter chose. But what can you do if your parents or in-laws aren't quite as accepting of the name you pick for your baby?
How to Deal With Baby Name Pressure From Grandparents
While the tradition of naming babies after grandparents isn't as commonplace as it once was, it still happens fairly often , according to Newsweek .
"In fact, over a quarter of Americans still choose family members' names for their newborns, and sometimes, especially grandparents, even expect you to name your child after them, or to choose the baby's name for you."
That said, parents should never feel obligated to go with a particular name just because that's what grandparents want.
"Marlene Watson, a licensed marriage and family therapist and the director of training at the Ackerman Institute for the Family, told Newsweek that neither the mother-in-law nor any grandparent is entitled to impose their will on a couple in the naming of their child.
'It is an honor that's granted when a couple decides to gift their child with the name of a mother-in-law or grandparent,' she said."
Standing your ground on this issue is important, as you'll need to continue setting boundaries with grandparents throughout your child's life.
"Alyssa Mairanz, executive director and owner of Empower Your Mind Therapy, told Newsweek that if you don't wish to follow your parents' or in-law's wishes when it comes to naming your baby, it's important to let them know that you value their opinions , but that they do not have a say in these kinds of decisions, as it is your child, not theirs."
When it comes to baby names, grandparents need to take a step back...even if you do want to name your kid after a type of South African white grape!
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