Monday, May 24

Post #399- her name will be Caroline

I was recently interviewed for Storytelling Magazine and during the interview I was asked about my children's names.  Or maybe I volunteered.  I don't remember anymore.  I explained about Jonah's name and then she asked about Caroline's.  
I guess I'm just a big chicken.  If I weren't a chicken I would have insisted on making her first name Story, not Caroline.  But I know what it can be like to have an odd name and Jonah is used to calling her Caroline.  I won't rock the boat on this one.  Her name will be Caroline Story Watson.  I think that's the first time I've typed it all out like that.  

Josh picked Caroline and I gave him a hard time, but I think he knew I liked it from the beginning.  It seems simple and clean, and I'd like her to create her own story- you know?  I can't think of a lot of characters named Caroline, so it's not associated with anything.  It's not overly popular right now, so she won't have a half dozen friends with the same name.  She can be herself, and decide who that is.  

I know that I've said it before, but having a girl is a kind of terrifying thing to me.  Jonah was whole new territory.  Boys aren't exactly something I know how to deal with.  I've been making it up as I go along, and I suppose it hasn't gone too badly.  The unknown wasn't a bad thing.  There weren't any expectations to be met.  

But a girl... Girls are emotional and seem so much more complicated to deal with as they get older.  They need support and understanding- but they don't understand the power they can have.  I want to give that to her- an understanding of how capable and powerful she can be.  

Maybe I should have decided to name her Supergirl?

Instead I am giving her a name that she can define for herself.  Nothing to wild.  Something a shade unassuming that she can assume for her own.  One day she can tell me the story of herself.  

2 comments:

John Wilson said...

Aww, what a nice name. I like it a lot. By the way, having two girls, I can't imagine ever having anything but girls. Miss you guys

Mindy said...

Oh, I love it. What a beautiful name. I'm glad it'll be an identity that she can define for herself instead of following suit of others with the same name.

Chara, I'm pretty sure you're going to be a terrific mother to a girl. I know that's easy for me to say, not having any children, but the Lord will provide you with all the means necessary. I know it. :)