The Name Game

The mother-in-law 

After my grandfather passed away I wanted so badly to name a child after him but I only had girls from that point on. When my son Moishy had his bechor I knew that the name was going to go to my daughter-in-law Chani’s side. Now Chani just had her second boy and I’m on my way to the hospital. 

I’m not going to ask Moishy and Chani to name the baby after my zeidy but I’ll just casually mention that there’s no one carrying his name yet in our branch of the family. It’s not as though there’s anyone else they have to name after and Zeidy had such a beautiful name: Hillel. 

The son/husband

I was really hoping to name the baby after my elter zeideh and Chani sounded okay with the idea when we discussed it a while back. She said it wasn’t her favorite name but she was sure it would grow on her eventually. Yet now that my mother got so excited about it Chani got all agitated and now she’s saying she doesn’t really like the name after all.

I don’t know if she’s reacting this way because she’s postpartum and hormonal or because she’s sensitive to any suggestion my mother makes. Zeidy was a real tzaddik but I’m not sure if I should push his name now. And if we decide not to give the name what on earth do I tell my mother?

The daughter-in-law 

You won’t believe what my mother-in-law just did. Here I am a day after birth and she bounces into the hospital and informs us that This time the name goes to our side and oh by the way Zeidy still has no one named after him — hint hint. It’s true that the name should be going to Moishy’s side this time but why does she have to rub that in my face? 

Also I know there’s nothing wrong with the name Hillel but I happen not to like it. Even if I’d love the name I feel that giving the name that she practically commanded us to give sends a message that she’s able to control us. But do I have a choice?