Monday, December 22, 2008

What's In a Name?

This photo was taken just a couple of weeks ago. It is the first one we've had taken with all five of our kids.


We've had to invent new titles for the people in our family.
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Hilary, the oldest of our children, is technically my step daughter--I married her mother when she was 18 months old. So, she was always my daughter rather than "step-daughter," even after her mother and I changed our relationship. When Giancarlo came into the picture, Hilary became his daughter, too. So she's kind of Giancarlo's step-daughter squared. And Giancarlo could be Hilary's step-father, twice removed.
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Amelia is Elijah's aunt. But now that her mother is taking over the job of mommy for Elijah, Amelia is now the aunster, and Elijah is her brophew.
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Rennen is my ex-wife's daughter, and my daughter's sister. I once introduced her as my niece, for lack of a better term. She later asked, "Why did you say I was your niece? I'm really more like your daughter." There is not a name in the English language for what you would call your ex-wife's daughter with whom you have a very warm and loving uncle-ish, parent-ish relationship. So? Rennen is my nieceter. And I'm her duncle, her funcle, or her uncther.
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Which brings me to a similar quandry. Rennen is my ex-wife's daughter, and as I've established, she's my nieceter. Diego is my son, and my same-sex life partner (now husband) and I adopted him. So what does that make Rennen and Diego in relation to each other? Cousins? Siblings? Sibsins? Couslings?
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Diego is Elijah's uncle. But again, since Claire has taken over the mommy job for Elijah, that makes Diego Elijah's bruncle. And that makes Elijah Diego's brophew.
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Elijah is my grandson. He always will be. But since roles have shifted in our family, does that kind of make me an uncle to him in a way? So am I his granduncle? His gruncle? Or his unclepa? And is he my grandphew, or my nephson?
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Ahhh, well. It's all just words. It's not the title that matters.
It's the relationship.
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33 comments:

Katrine said...

I like funcle and gruncle! Great picture!

NannyGarcia said...

So from whose loins did Elijah spring? I'm so confused.

180/360 said...

I'm totally confused too, but damn they are some cute kids! Merry Christmas... xoxo

Hula Hank said...

Are you just trying to come up with new words to confuse everyone that you are a grandpa?

Pumpkin Delight said...

You should just be G-Daddy to everyone, that's a good name for you.

Leanne said...

My head hurts.

I'm easily confused.

Can I just call you a family and be done:)

Liz said...

Tax time must be a real PITA!

Jill said...

I love the picture! I'm inpressed you got all 5 smiling and looking great!

smiles4u said...

A beautiful picture of all 5 kids. Many people will be confused and not understand the relationships involved nor the correct title for each person to make this a "family" picture...you hit it on the nail in saying it's the relationship not the title that matters the most. What makes this picture so beautiful is all that has gone into making your family what it is today...the healing, the grace and forgiveness, the acceptance, the tremendous love...ect
You and your family are a testimony to me and others. Thank you for sharing the beauty that is your family.

janet said...

After reading you for about a year, I must finally comment: That is your best post ever! I've come to know them all, so it wasn't confusing, just so so silly. By giving them these redonk names, you show the world your innate capacity for inclusion and your unending love and acceptiance of everyone. You hold nothing back. I feel priviledged to be one of your readers.

Busy Bee Suz said...

The picture says it all: A family that loves each other. No titles, cause lord, that hurt my little brain!!!
Congrats on making it all work!!!

Tracy Griffin - Artist said...

I challenge you to create a family tree! HA!

LOVE the photo! And, you're right... titles don't matter, it's the love in your heart that makes you who you are to them.

Cheri @ Blog This Mom! said...

My head just exploded trying to follow along and now there's brain matter on my Christmas tree.

Martha said...

I need a flow chart and diagrams, Jason. This is a bit much. Beautiful family btw.

hulagirlatheart said...

So glad you're able to keep the whole famn damily straight. I love that it's such a conglomeration.

Baby Favorite said...

I agree with Suz. "Family" is good enough!

I have a hard time explaining how we spend the holidays and exchange gifts with my ex and his wife (my son's biological father). And I *truly* admire them both.

Titles, schmitles. As long as we're all happy... right?

g said...

They look so wonderful together, so loving. I love the words - you poke fun at the rigidness of our language so rightly!

I think in many non-western societies, every non-parent older person related to a child is called either an uncle or an aunt. We can lighten up a little here in the US!

FAMILY is the best!

Glass Dragonfly said...

Love is what matters! And there is obviously a lot of that here.

Beautiful picture!Beautiful family!

janjanmom said...

Thank you so much for straightening that up!! It is as clear as mud!!

They are a gorgeous group, Grandpa.

Jenn @ Juggling Life said...

I so relate to this.

My daughter-niece keeps threatening to just unfurl a family tree when people ask her about parents/sibling/cousins.

ChiTown Girl said...

I thought I understood all the connections/relationships before, but now I'm just flat out confused! :( But, I'm NOT at all confused about the fact that those are some damn cute kids! What a beautiful family you have there, Mister! I'm with Martha...why don't you make us a flow chart next time! ;-)

Merry, Merry Christmas, and a Happy, Healthy New Year to you and your wonderful family!

Claire Marie said...

What lovely children indeed!

The family flow chart will get jammed up in the part where Jason and Claire were married and now he is a grandpa and she is the mother of the same child.

That would mean that....

jlo said...

That was so funny. Well done. And I love the picture. Everyone looks healthy and happy and that's all that matters!!
Merry! Merry!!

Lacking Productivity said...

Your "Christmas Card" is posted on my blog. It's from me and the original "bruncle."

QueenofPlanetHotflash said...

Beautiful Family !!!
No Habla Jasonese
Funcle bahahahahahahaaa

just jamie said...

And I thought my family tree was confusing...

Love the explanation. Of course, I'm only more puzzled than ever, but...truth is, yours is a family tree built on all the right stuff!

L said...

We have a special family too. My mom was adopted by her uncle when my biological grandmother realized she couldn't take care of my mom and aunt. So my Grandma and Grandpa are brother and sister.. but not in that way. Fast forward to me being around and my mom adopted my cousin.. I now have a cou-sister and she has a mom/aunt- maunt. I think the fact that we have to redefine the titles of our family makes us lucky.. we are loved and that is all that matters. Family is family. My brady bunch family with two half sisters, one full blooded, one adopted, three step brothers.. I am blessed beyond belief..

Last Place Finisher said...

I don't know, maybe if everyone got their own jersey with a number on it....

Miss M said...

I have councles and brophews and all of the other special titles you mentioned. It's way more fun than a "normal" family. It's the best when you try to explain it to a stranger. Usually ends with "they're family" :) Love it!

HappyWifeHappyLife said...

You know what... it's a FAMILY. And LOVE is the glue that holds it all together. And I commend you, Claire, Giancarlo and Claire's husband (sorry, I forget his name!) for making it all work.

Here's a virtual toast from me to you! A blessed, happy 2009 for your family, and for mine!

MOM #1 said...

HEHEHEHE those titles are so funny! Obviously it's all the delicious love oozing through the family that makes it work. We have a pretty crooked and twisted family tree as well. So freaking what! We're happy!

Rebekah said...

This is my favorite post of yours ever, and that's saying something, since I love love love your blog. Happy holidays to the JasGiaHilAmDiegRenElijClairDen family! May all your family connectedness give you a gorgeous 2009!

Suz Broughton said...

THis was very helpful. As a new reader, it was always a little confusing.
The most important thing is these kids are loved. It is obvious how much you love them all.