The Evolution of Ada Grace

Ada Grace with her friend Ivy

 

Ada Grace Creighton was born Grace Ann Creighton on December 18, 2001.

Grace Ann is a fine name.  Everyone in the family was fond enough of it.  But it was clear from the beginning (at least to me) that it may not fit just right.

I kept my concerns to myself because I could think of no good alternatives.  I like the name Grace a lot.  Ann is fine, too.  I have cousins and good friends with the name Ann.

It was the combination of the two that didn’t work quite right for me.  You see, to me, Grace Ann – especially said very quickly – sounds a lot like Greason.  Jimmy Greason was my next door neighbor when I was growing up.  From the moment Grace was born I think of Jimmy every time I hear Grace Ann said together.

I called my parents to tell them about Grace’s birth.  “We have another girl,” I said.  “Her name is Grace Ann.”  It was an uncontrollable reflex.  In the next instant, I just blurted out, “Jimmmmy.”

Again, I did my best to hide my misgivings about the combination of Grace Ann and my peculiar speech reflex.

Joni is fond of the name Grace, too.  She has no special attachment to Ann, it just seemed to go well with Grace (clearly we did not communicate well on this point).

Joni, though, was thinking of her own childhood neighbor when it came to names.  Ada Wederski was a special person in her life.  She very much wanted to give Ada’s name to one of our children.  She just couldn’t seem to come up with a good way to work it in.

It became clear soon after Grace’s birth that she would be our last child.  There would be no more opportunities to honor people by giving their names to our children.  But, that didn’t stop Joni from thinking about Ada.

Some friends of ours, when Grace was about three, had a daughter of their own.  Ava Grace, who lived a short but special life, was the name she was given.  She was the inspiration Joni needed.

Joni always imagined Ada as a middle name never a first.  Grace Ada just didn’t roll off the tongue.  But, Ada Grace, that just might work.

Joni kicked around the idea in her own mind for quite a long time.  Grace was five years old before we talked about the idea together.  Was Grace too old to change names now?

I thought why not.  Grace wasn’t yet in school.  School is what sets a kids name in stone – at least while they are at that school.

Joni and I agreed it would be okay to make the change.  We asked Grace but she didn’t warm to the idea immediately.  Joni told her the story of her neighbor Ada and that helped a little.  But Grace wasn’t quite ready to change identities.

Scheduling issues and preschool desires led us to send Grace to a different elementary school for kindergarten than Emma and Joe.  She would switch back to Central Elementary in first grade.

The second week of kindergarten a strange thing happened.  Grace, without consulting anyone, began to sign all of her papers with Ada.  That is sort of Grace’s way.  She does things quietly with little or no fanfare.

Grace’s teacher was confused.  Where did this name Ada come from?  All of the school supplies, name cards at the desk, coat hook and locker said, “Grace.”  Let’s go by “Grace” this year.  We all agreed.

First grade, back at Central Elementary, provided another opportunity for Grace to decide if she wanted to be Ada Grace or just Grace.  She still wasn’t sure.  Her teacher, Kelly Sanseverino, said, “We need to decide so I know what to call you.”  So Grace took the plunge and declared herself to be Ada Grace.  And, that’s how all her classmates know her now, as Ada.  At Central Elementary, there is no turning back.

Old friends still call her Grace.  At home, it’s a mixed bag.  I hardly ever call her only Grace.  It’s either Ada Grace or Ada for me.  Emma and Joe go back and forth.  Joni tends to call her Grace in the summer and Ada during the school year.  It’s a name that is still taking shape.

But, I like it.  It’s unique.  It’s a pretty combination, Ada Grace.  It makes a connection between generations of people who were special to Joni.  And, it saves me the embarrassment of reflexively shouting out “Jimmmmy” when some says Grace Ann.

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