Ever Think You Chose the Wrong Name?

Naming is a big ordeal around our house. It is months of lists, vetoes, crossing off, arguing, and occasional pouting. With Pumpkinpie, we settled on something well before she was born. With The Bun, we crossed everything (and I mean everything) off each other's lists but our two last-resort safety names, the ones I liked, but thought were maybe a little too common to go with the oh-so-boring last name our children bear.

I really wanted to name him Calder, like the artist. Misterpie thought that wasn't a name. He's a traditionalist, Misterpie is, of the sort that would have been happy with one of those sturdy old standards, while I really wanted something unusual, but not out there. Misterpie quite liked Duncan, but I couldn't get past the nickname Dunkin' Donuts. What if he was a chunky kid? We would have set him up but good with that one. (And he was, for a while, one fat baby.)

We were down to Benjamin or Max, even as he was on his way into the world, but weren't entirely happy with either one. We switched gears and went back to a discarded name in the middle of the night after he was born as we sat awake with him, talking. It sat fine. I like it, I don't regret the change of heart or the name - but the kid would make such a good Max.



He's got all the mischief and perseverance of Ruby's little brother. Stubborn? Heck, yes. Exuberant, too, like this guy, and fond of his toys. He can sit and play with his own things for quite a while. This bunny makes me laugh more now than ever before for the resemblance.



And then - just the other night, we were driving along, talking about something he didn't want to do. He informed us of his resistance to the idea in these terms: "I'd be so mad, I'd eat you up!"


I don't think he has even read Where The Wild Things Are yet, but again, so very, perfectly Max that I can't help wonder if we missed the boat on the perfectly suited name, there.

But then, I think ours is better for the long years of being a grownup, when hopefully he will be over the urge to eat up those he disagrees with.