I live with a two year old and a four year old. This is my story, and I am sticking to it.
My grandchildren call me Bapa. It is a name I am told that I created when I was trying to call my paternal grandfather something he would recognize. I apparently blurted out Bapa, and it stuck. I consider it an honor to carry on that name as my Bapa was a great man.
My wife is Nana. For my son, the name Nana is a family name. Lots of families use it, but it has special significance to my son. So that is what the kids call my wife.
They call me Bapa, and they call my wife Nana ... over and over and over and over and over and over and over again.
Did you ever see that episode of Family Guy where Stewie suddenly decides he likes his mom and keeps calling her all different names until she reacts? It is like that, except it goes on over and over again with the same name until my wife or I answer. When the two-year-old does it, there seems to be a purpose. But to be honest, we have a difficult time understanding what that purpose is. Even after going through the age of two with the older one, we are still not experts at speaking baby.
When the four-year-old does it, it is usually for the same purpose. He wants me to play video games with him, or he wants my wife to give him treats. I'll give the kid credit, he knows how to con a treat or an hour of video games out of us.
But all day long it is Bapa Bapa Bapa Bapa Nana Nana Nana Nana. You know what we rarely hear? DADDY!! You know why? Because the two-year-old gets treats whenever he bombards us with our name, and the four-year-old gets his snacks and video games. After all, we ARE grandparents. And we wouldn't have it any other way.
George N Root III is a grandfather who is well aware of what his name is.