The other day, someone asked me why I call everyone Sweetie or Honey, “is it a southern thing?”
Probably.
I don’t know how it is in other parts of the country, but in the south it’s not out of the ordinary for everyone from the teller at the bank to the lady behind you in line at Target to call you ‘Sweetie‘. But there’s another reason.
Isn’t there always another reason?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted a heart-name. You know, a term of endearment. A softer, sweeter version of my name that held an underlying tenderness. But Robin is a tough name to tenderize. Rob. Robbie. Not-so-much.
I’ve no idea when this strange desire took root but I suspect it was around the time I was four years old. My mom’s stepfather called me,
“Shuga”.
At the time I didn’t realize that he used that term like someone who loves butter and spreads it liberally on everything. To this day, Grandaddy calls everyone Shuga. But to my little-child self, I was Shuga.
Just me.
It didn’t last long though, me being Shuga, because at some point before my fifth birthday my grandmother died. After that, my grandfather wasn’t around as much. So I lost my name.
And I’ve been looking for it ever since.
When I started birthing babies two things happened. First I was over the moon that those tiny bundles called me ‘Mama’ (that’s the ultimate heart-name isn’t it?) and second, I gave all of them heart-names, lest they grow up looking for one, to this day, I still call them by their heart-names.
I do the same with my sweet granddaughters and with The Husband. I tried it with the son-in-laws but it seemed to annoy them so I just call them by their regular names 🙂
So that’s the story Morning-Glory, if you and I talk by email or on facebook, you’ll be Sweetie or Honey or Friend. And it’s not just because I’m from the south, it’s because to me, those are heart-names and it means your special.
And I want you to know that.
~Sending you love Sweet Friends~
***
Do you have heart-names for people and does someone in your life call you by one?
No heart names really for my wife or daughters. I have always called my wife “honey” “sweetheart” or some other term. I have always been “Bill” to her. Never in 39 years has it been any different. I call my girls honey sometimes. One thing I NEVER do is call someone by their last name. That, to me, is the ultimate slam. Hugs to you my sweet friend. 🙂
Hugs right back at cha Bill 🙂
(I soooo agree about the last name thing 🙂
Good morning! I love this post and I agree that heart-names are so endearing (not just because we’re in the south!). When we moved to MA my friends kept asking me why my dad called them Darling. It was so foreign to them! I remember thinking how funny that is because I really liked it when my dad didn’t call me by my first name! Just the other day Addison was talking about her name. Then, with as much pride as a two year old could muster, she said, “Daddy calls me Pumpkin.” She couldn’t stop smiling as she talked about her special name from Daddy. My heart melted even more and I realized then just how important heart-names really are, even from such a tender age! Much love and your house is looking amazing!!!
Katie! I love the heart-name Pumpkin! So sweet!!! And not surprised that your dad called everyone Darling…he’s southern through and through and he has a gift for making people feel special 🙂
xo
(Praying for your labor and delivery!)
You sure touched my heart with this one, Robin. It’s one of my favorites!
And guess what? We were porch partying this morning and I glanced at the morning glories–couldn’t forget the word–feel a blog rising in my heart about them. And then you called me one. 🙂 Sweet confimation.
Thank you, my Heart Friend. I love you.
Jewles…can’t wait to see your post on morning glories!!!
love love love you too
You have always made me feel special, Robin when you call me “sweetie”. I love it! And, being from the north I had never experienced that before. Even out west, you don’t usually run into it. To me it is part of the southern charm and it touches my heart. 🙂
I always had nicknames for my children when they were little and do the same for my grandchildren. My favorites are punkin (spelled this way), peanut, sweetie pie and cutie patootie. One of my daughters is named Hope and I always called her Hopie. 🙂
I love this post! You brought back some wonderful memories and terms of endearment. xxoo
Eileen, you are so special to me. I love our connection my friend. Your names for your children are precious. For a time I called my Emma: Peanut, I settled on Em Bear at some point when she was a little older and it stuck 🙂
xoxo
I do love heart names.! My cousin and his wife have given heart names to their two kiddos and even each other. It’s so special and sweet.
My mom calls me Doobie. Which is just a variation of Debbie. But I love it and only she says it. My dad and others in my family call me Deb Do. When I was little and getting a bit independent I’d say, “No, Deb do. Deb do it.”
With my two boys I didn’t have one particular heart name for them. However, when they were little I’d call them “munchkin”. As they got older they didn’t like that so I changed it to “monkey”. And then even older I’d usually say “buddy”.
Oh and just FYI I don’t mind if you call me sweetie. 😉
I love this!! I never thought of it as “heart names” before. Just another reason I love living in the south!! 🙂 My husband is the king of giving people nicknames. He always says it’s because he can’t remember names but considering he is always calling me and our children by them I think he can remember our names. 😉 He has given several people their forever nicknames. My husband’s name for me is always changing. Right now it is “Mur.” Don’t ask…I don’t even know why. 😉 It has been MacMurray, Macker, Murray, Angel Breeze…to name a few. Seriously, I don’t know where he comes up with some of them. It is so rare that he calls me by my real name it sounds strange if he does. 🙂 =P
Gina, how absolutely wonderful that your hubby gives everyone heart-names! I wonder if someone gave him one when he was a boy??? Do you call him by a special name???? sending love xo
I love the term “heart names”! My husband has called me sweetie for as long as I can remember, and we’ve been married almost 25 years! We live in the south and had some friends that started calling me sweetie because they heard husband using it all the time and thought that was a nickname that I went by! 🙂
I’ve always thought that maybe my future grandchildren would call me Sweetie!
Nancy, oh how wonderful if your grandbabies call you Sweetie- that sets the tone for the way you would most certainly influence them, lessons from your heart always tempered with sweetness. I love it. Your hubby is a man after my heart…love love love the atmosphere in the home that heart-names create. How can you scream and argue calling each other Sweetie??? xoxo
“Heart-names” is so much more personal than “nicknames”! My Dad always called me “Doll” in his wonderful baritone voice. I miss that, but will hear it again one day. I called my son “Booqui” (boo’kee) – so clue why – and my grandson is “Nipo” (nipote is grandson in Italian, but I quickly shortened to Nipo). I use “sweetie”,”darlin'” and “my friend” a lot with family/friends.
Guerrina, I love that your daddy called you Doll…so sweet.
And your heart names are wonderful for those ppl you love so much!
xoxo
AWWW, I LOVE this!!! I never thought about “heart names” but I tend to call people hun,or sweetie or something like that all the time!!! It just comes out. XO, Pinky
I love when someone calls me hun or sweetie Pinky!! xo