Her Name Is Nina!
Nina, my three year-old has developed a strong sense of identity. There have been a number of instances where in my determination to not call her one of her siblings' names, I have called her "Sweetheart," "Honey" or even "Sweetie," to which she has replied, "My name is not Sweetie. My name is Nina." Initially, I chuckled at her cuteness and figured it was a one time occurrence. But she has remained consistent. Whether it is a family member or a cashier at a store who has made the mistake of calling her anything other than Nina, she has been quick to offer clarification. I was born with the name Shatanese over 4 decades ago. My mom always told me my name came from an Egyptian queen. I never researched this information and have chosen to live with a sense of mystery surrounding the origin of my name. Throughout my life, I have often been asked, "What does your name mean?" Or, "What is the origin?" These types o