Last name change?

[bluntforcemama]

When I get married, should I change my last name to his last name? My mom says I should because when I go to Parent-Teacher conferences, the teachers might assume that I'm a step mother.

 

[kotori]

I don't think there's a single family in my kids' school where everybody has the same name. Not an issue these days. (Of course, this is Kentucky--who knows what it's like in your world.)

Save yourself the paperwork.

 

[bluntforcemama]

lol....




Broken homes seem to be on the rise, don't they?

 

[Guest]

Hi Myst

What do you feel you should do?

I took my husband's name because I have two brothers that will carry on my maiden name.

It really is your decision; not your mother's or society's, for that matter.

Congratulations, again!

 

[Monazwx]

Don't do it

It's too much of a hassle; changing all of your documents. Even after your married, you'll still be Ms. "original name". It's the name you were born with, and he doesn't have to change his. It's only a worthless tradition.

If this argument is solely based on teachers' intepretations of you, screw 'em.

(But, if it's a big deal, you can always hyphenate.)

BTW, congratulations, you lucky gal!!!

 

[sabbathstorm]

I had to vote other. I don't really see the point in name changes. You could always hyphenate your name or maybe he could take yours. Believe it or not, I do know a man that took his wife's name. He's a local media figure.

 

[bluntforcemama]

I was thinking of making up a whole new last name. How about something horrid, like Hildegarda?

 

[Black_Bird]

*I* think you should both change your names to a new name... Its the start of a new family, yes? Start a new tradition!

Or... you could swap names. <Ducks> Okay, maybe not...

 

[Monazwx]

A guy who took a woman's last name. Now that's original and fresh. Very cool!

Swapping names, never heard of that one . . .

 

[missy2]

changing names

I think the best decision to change a name was the change from Penis Carlesbian to Dick VanDyke

 

[Skibum]

Whatever you do, don't hyphenate! Your name, his name, a made up name, it doesn't matter, but hyphenated names...ewwwww.

 

[Mensa]

Re: Don't do it

(But, if it's a big deal, you can always hyphenate.)

Hyphenated names sound so pretentious.

 

[bluntforcemama]

Well, I definitely won't hyphenate. It's just too.... yuppie.

 

[KillerMuffin]

I chose other.

I will never change my last name again. All of my records are stuck in my current last name and I'm not going through the hassle of having to deal with the military and educational systems as {last name A} while having {last name B} on my myriad ID cards. Government drones are difficult enough without making things easier for them to complicate.

Your situation might be different. How attached are you to your last name? How many pieces of official documentation will remain in your current last name versus how many pieces of official documentation will transfer into your new last name? Will your dogs still know who you are if your name is "Mrs. Monk" instead of Mrs. Myst?"

*shrugs* You is you, baby sis. You have to make you happy and you have to compromise with the Monk.

 

[Skibum]

Well, I definitely won't hyphenate. It's just too.... yuppie.

You always seemed like an intelligent person!

 

[bluntforcemama]

Well, seeming and being are two very different things. If I do 51 things right, and 49 things wrong, I'm having a good day.

 

[CarolineOh]

I took my ex-husband's last name, and always regretted it. I think it depends on what your name means to you. My family name is of an obvious ethnic origin, and that makes it feel to me like a stronger statement of who I am then if it were otherwise. I couldn't wait to take it back when we were divorced. It made me feel more whole again.

 

[kotori]

Not necessarily

lol....
Broken homes seem to be on the rise, don't they?

I should have added that my wife kept her name--she said it's the one thing her dad gave her that lasts.

 

[bluntforcemama]

His last name is much more uncommon than mine. If I changed my name, it might make me easier to find! Which isn't necessarily a good thing.

 

[ShyGuy68]

I agree with those who said that it's up to you, and what you really want. Screw what anybody else and society says, it's you that have to live with it.

 

[Paendragon]

I was thinking of making up a whole new last name. How about something horrid, like Hildegarda?

That happens to be my last name, and I'll have you know it's considered very distinguished on my planet.

 

[bluntforcemama]

I've often wondered about that planet. Do they all have that last name? The last Hildegarda to visit me wasn't so open about his naming rituals.

 

[Paendragon]

You'd have to ask my Mother/Aunt, or Uncle/Dad. They know much more about this sorta high learnin' than me.

 

[lobito]

In our country it doesn't quite work that way. The mans last name is just a technicality, as most paperwork never reflects the additional name, until you become an adult.

 

[RawHumor]

I can't believe only one person besides me chose 'Yes'. What happened to tradition? You're becoming a family, so shouldn't a family share a common name? You're leaving your old family (your parents' family, in theory) and joining a new family, as husband and wife.

Just my 2 cents.