Nameless After Birth

During my three pregnancies, I knew that picking a name for my child was one of the most important things I would do for them before they were born. I wanted a strong name that would be remembered. I wanted a name that I could easily imagine them growing into as they became fine young men. With my first and last pregnancy, choosing a name for my children was no problem. I decided on their names so easily. When I was pregnant with my middle son that was a whole different story, I couldn't decide on any one name until I went into the hospital to give birth.

At the hospital, I had decided on the name Julian for my middle child. I liked the way it flowed off my tongue and I thought that my middle son would turn out looking similar to my oldest son and that the name would fit him.

After a long labor, my son was born. It was a bittersweet moment during my Motherhood. I was introduced to my bundle of joy and at the moment, I knew that he was not a Julian. My sweet little baby was opposite from his older brother and had lighter looks and in my heart, I knew that wasn't the name for him. Once my son and I were brought to our permanent room after the labor, I felt like my parenting was off to a bad start. I couldn't believe that I had no name for my child and worse yet, I had no clue what I even wanted to name him.

I immediately called my Mother who had stayed home to watch my firstborn while I was at the hospital giving birth. I told her about my sweet new baby and how the name I had picked didn't fit him at all. She talked with me, offered me suggestions and together, we came up with his name. I also had to come up with a new middle name since it didn't go with the name we had just picked out. She helped me come up with Seth and I am so glad that I did not go ahead and name my son Julian. He is a Seth all the way, my own sweet little mischievous imp.

If anything, I learned that you're not failing the "Motherhood" and you don't have bad parenting skills if you don't have a name for your child right away. In fact, maybe it's better on occasion not to have a name until after you've been connected to your child for the first time. My middle son was named after he was born. I feel like he introduced himself to me so I could find the perfect name for him, after he was already born.