The Power of the Middle Name

Why is is that we tack on the middle name when we’re VERY SERIOUS? I’m not sure, but it works. Our mothers did it with us when we were little, and we inevitably do it with our children. The crazy thing is that IT WORKS! I use my daughter’s actual name in this situation, but in an effort to give her a little privacy, I’ll only reference her first initial.

Me: “S please put the scissors down” S: (keeps playing with the scissors) Me: “S. that is dangerous, please put down the scissors” S: (completely oblivious, flinging the scissors around like an airplane) Me: “S Grace! You put the scissors down right this minute” S: Loud bang, scissors are down.

Just like 1,2,3 the middle name seems magical to me. In fact when I am REALLY, REALLY serious, I will throw in the last name for good measure. “S Grace Wilson! You put those scissors down this instant!” Right? I mean we all do this, don’t we?

One day, when my daughter was around three years old, she was talking to me while I was working. She said something to me, but I didn’t hear her because I was typing away on my computer. She repeated herself, but I still didn’t hear because I was still typing. Finally, she yelled “Mommy Grace!” She knew that when I wanted her attention I called her S Grace, so she just assumed that she was supposed to add “GRACE!” to MY name to get my attention. She didn’t realize that Grace was her middle name. And that it was NOT my middle name. Needless to say, it cracked me up and got me off of the computer to pay attention to her.

Now that she’s older, I’ve shared tHIS story with her. So now whenever we want someone’s attention, we just add “Grace” to their name. It’s an inside joke, but now that you’re in on it, feel free to try it at home.