Her grandma’s unfulfilled wish was to have a daughter named Mary. She decided her youngest grandchild would fulfill that dream.
A 15-year-old risked being an a**hole to defend her 2-month-old baby sister from their family. OP’s grandma insisted on calling her sister a different name than she was given and no one else dared go against her because she was their elder.
From what she was told, OP’s grandma had always wanted to have a daughter named Mary. She never had a daughter but had six sons instead.
Her daughters-in-law declined to name any of their children Mary, much to her grandmother’s disappointment. OP’s grandmother decided that her baby sister was her last chance to fulfill her wish.
OP’s parents were privately annoyed with her grandma calling her baby sister Mary. They never said anything to her grandma’s face because they believed elders should be respected no matter what.
OP didn’t buy into that dogma. She still snapped at her grandma when she heard her call her baby sister Mary during their family’s Christmas at her place.
OP told her grandma to stop misnaming her sister as it was annoying. OP’s bluntness upset her grandma and uncles.
They claimed she was rude and said it was not a big deal because it was just a name. OP used their reasoning against them and decided to call her cousins, even the male ones, Mary during their holiday.
By the end of the day, at least one cousin was annoyed. He said OP was not funny and asked her to stop.
“I’m not trying to be funny Mary,” OP said.
She said she would not stop calling everyone Mary until they apologized and admitted it was upsetting to be called a different name than the one you preferred.
A Redditor said OP should have let the adults handle the situation instead of resorting to sarcastic remarks.
BeckyDaTechie
OP said she was not trying to be sarcastic. She was trying to prove a point. If it wasn’t such a big deal, her cousins would have no problem changing their names to Mary. Right? Right?
Mother-Couple-2843
OP said that someone has to advocate for her sister since she is too young to do it herself. She could change her name when she is of age should she wish to do so.
Mother-Couple-2843
OP agreed with this thinking and said in another comment that she won’t respect someone by the merit of their age.
AffectionateYam290
Age does not beget respect. Respect begets respect.
ShrubbyFire1729
While the default is to treat people with basic respect and decency, continuing to do so if they behave in a manner that doesn’t warrant respect is pointless.
Jody_Tevlin
This was a wild response but it showed an interesting point. If the rest of the family were so reverential of OP’s grandma, why didn’t they name at least one kid Mary?
Ok_Paint_4308
OP’s petty response to a disrespectful annoyance was justified said one Redditor.
MattBD
At least she was funny in her “disrespect.”
Top_Manufacturer8946
Could OP have allowed the adults to handle the mess? Sure, but since none of them were willing to go against her grandma, OP had to take matters into her own hands.
She and her sister would have a funny story to share when they’re older. If her grandma’s obsession with the name Mary continues, her uncles will have a new name during their next gathering.
