In the case of grandparents’ critical analysis of all the things that their children (or in-law children) are doing with grandchildren, well… “mum” is oftentimes the better word. Let’s take the first, and probably the harshest, criticism – the baby’s name.
There are simple rules to offering your expert grandparent opinion.
Don’t.
The baby’s name is the most precious and most well-thought gift that any parent can give to a child. Hours of conversation, debate and veto-lists go into the process. History, legacy, meanings are considered. Popularity, originality and uniqueness are discussed. Parents write the short list of names over and over again on pieces of paper to make sure the letters and the sounds flow beautifully from first to middle to last name.
Then a choice is made and announced to the world.
OK. The parents had no idea that the name choice would cause such a craze with grandparents. And these same grandparents have no problem offering conversation, debate, history, legacy, etc. as if the baby’s name is open to discourse.
Again, there are simple rules to the baby name process and selection.
Hold your tongue. Period.
I recently was told by a friend whose daughter is having her first baby that the family was having a “name intervention” because everyone hated the baby’s name. My friend was upset that her daughter was upset.
The grandparent is upset?
Please. The child’s name will be used, called, whispered, written and even sung for ever and ever. And each time it is, the parent will remember the disappointment that the name brought. This is not the way we as grandparents want to sink the spirits of our own children, or our grandchildren.
You are probably wondering what I said to my friend when she told me about the alleged "intervention."
I said, “You know, you were given the chance and the gift to name each of your children. Give this chance and this gift to your own daughter.”
So grandparents… sing the name(s) of your grandchild(ren) to the world with the most beautiful voice. Leave the opinion deep inside your soul, or better yet, ditch it.
Thanks so much for this article! We were pretty shocked when we told grandparents we'd selected Gabrielle as a girl's name and they were critical of it. I've never forgotten that, and was extremely offended. I agree it's better to bite your tongue.
All I could think was, "How will you feel later when the baby is here and has that name?" And yes, grandparents have had their chance to name children... now it's their children's turn. Leave it to them.
Stages 
Loose lips sink ships.
I've never forgotten that, and was extremely offended. I agree it's better to bite your tongue. 
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