What's in a name?

We all have nicknames for our friends or family--sometimes they're insults--most of the time though they are terms of endearment.

My son (and my dad actually)  have a gripe about nicknames, which is that it is respectful to call one by one's given name; so by extension, it's not respectful to call someone by a nickname.

 I'm beginning to see their point. I mean do you really want to call someone by his/her nickname to the point where he/she doesn't know to what name to answer?

So my son's name is Austin, but he has also been called the following:

The Bird

Turkey Bird

Birdus Bean

Bubs

My husband's name is Bruce, but he has been called the following:

Brucie

Bubs

Bubsy (by Austin a.k.a. the bird)

Daddy

Sweets

My name of course is Eden (Mrs. Jones if your nasty) but I've been called:

Edes

Edie

Edi Amin (yes that guy)

Sweets

Mommy

Seizuregirl

Tumorgirl

Even our kitten Sprite, whom we have had in our family for about a month, now has nicknames--so many that Austin's afraid she won't learn to respond to her own. We have called her:

Kitten Buns

Critter

Crits

Kitty

Stinky Butt (my personal favorite)

Again, I think my son and my dad have a point.  What's so hard about just calling someone by his or her proper name?

Give it a try.