What’s in a name? Shakespeare once wrote how a rose by any other name would still smell as sweet. And while he may have been correct — “rose” sounds a lot better than “stink flower.”
The point I’m getting at is names matter. But who should and shouldn’t get a say? Does family legacy trump parental desires?
RELATED STORIES
This Reddit user’s mother certainly seems to think so. And according to a recent post by Bloofykins8675309, she flat out refuses to call her first grandchild family because of his name.
Reddit user Bloofykins8675309 and his wife are big gamers. They’re also expecting their first son this October.
The couple first met while they were playing an online RPG and make a note of mentioning how important the culture is to their relationship. Bloofykins8675309 and his wife are also partial to “Red Dead Redemption 2” and say that the character Arthur Morgan had a profound effect on them.
“We consider him one of the best fictional characters of all time,” Bloofykins8675309 said.
“I’ve been playing video games for a long time and his story is the only one to ever make me cry.”
He then explains how it was his wife who came up with the idea to name their son Arthur Morgan.
Bloofykins8675309 makes a point of mentioning how there’s nothing inherently wrong with the name Arthur Morgan.
It may sound a little old-fashioned, but unless you happened to be a gamer — there’s nothing that would set off any alarm bells.
He jokes that when you compare the name to Sonic the Hedgehog or Donkey Kong, that Arthur Morgan seems pretty plain by comparison.
“My mother had a brother that died when I was about a year old, so I don’t have any memories of him,” Bloofykins8675309 explained.
Apparently, his mother has also been pushing very hard for him and his wife to name their son after her late brother.
“There’s nothing wrong with his name, either.”
“It’s pretty common, think something like ” Robert John “. It’s just not what we wish to name our sprout,” he said.
But the disagreement quickly escalated after Bloofykins8675309’s brother accidentally spilled the beans about how “Arthur Morgan” was actually a video game character.
According to Bloofykins8675309, his mother completely flipped out when she heard the truth.
“She actually drove 30 minutes to our house so she could bang on our door and berate us in person for honoring someone who doesn’t actually exist over her flesh-and-blood sibling,” Bloofykins8675309 said.
Yet despite the abrupt manner in which his mother chose to make her feelings known, Bloofykins8675309 did his best to be empathetic.
He understands his mother misses her brother, but being that the child in question happens to be his son — his (and his wife’s) feelings should take precedent.
Bloofykins8675309 went on to say that he and his wife already think of their unborn son as Arthur.
“That’s going to be his name no matter how she feels about it,” he said. But when the couple tried gently but firmly to inform his mother that this was the way things were going to be — all hell broke loose.
The grandmother-to-be stormed out of the house, cursing her son as she went.
Before pulling out of the driveway, Bloofykins8675309’s mother said that not only did she want nothing to do with her unborn grandson — but that she’d never regard him as family.
The future father felt hurt, noting how he and his mother had always had a great relationship.
Bloofykins8675309 then took to Reddit to ask in earnest — “am I the asshole?”
A lot of people had a lot of opinions.
“Just leave her to it,” wrote fellow Redditor FlatwormDangerous. “She will come running back because of course she will want to be part of her son and grandsons life.”
They also mentioned how his mother might want to consider some form of grief counseling, since it was clear to see that she wasn’t over her brother’s death.
Which, if you ask me, that isn’t the most terrible idea.
It could only help.
“Your mother is using emotional blackmail and she can not be rewarded for that,” Reddit user keesouth said.
“I was prepared to hear some weird name that your poor kid would be saddled with but Arthur and Morgan are classic names . Your wife is right you do need to stand your ground,” they reasoned.
Appeasing a parent can be a tricky thing, but there is a line and a limit to such things.
Now, we want to hear from you.
What do you think about this situation? Who do you think is in the right?
Let us know down below in the comment section! We would certainly love to hear from you!
