Erin, WOO!!!!!!
Having gone to Catholic school for 12 years, I knew a LOT of girls whose official first name was Mary, but who went by their middle name.
I admit that I didn't even consider changing my last name when ND and I got married because of all the paperwork involved. And the whole liking my name thing, but you get what I mean.
I think when my mom married my stepdad, she never legally changed her name to his, but uses it socially (Mr. and Mrs. W_____, etc.) and still uses her previous name (which is actually my dad's name, since she didn't change it back after the divorce) professionally.
Yay! Yay! Yay! Happy happy for Erin.
A German immigrant friend of my parents legally changed his name from Adolf Rudolph to Rudolph Adolf during WWII. For reasons that have not survived in the family history, my grandfather's brother had his name changed from Immanuel Ruben to Ruben Immanuel. I think with those names I would have gone for something completely different, particularly since everyone called him "Rube."
Being a woman changing your last name to your new husband's is the easiest name change possible in the US (because the only documentation you need is your marriage certificate, which you're getting anyway), and it's STILL a complete and utter PITA because of all the places you need to notify.
I can't even imagine the amount of paperwork and frustration involved in changing a name for any other reason.
Erin, congrats! What terrific news.
I kept my last name, but introducing myself as Ms. or Mrs. hasn't really come up till I guess now. I suppose I'll introduce myself as Mrs. G to my new students (!) since I always had to fight high school kids to call me Ms. anyway.
It's funny, though, cause Mrs. Lastname is my mom, you know?!
I explain the whole history of "Ms." and show the kidlets the nameplate I inherited from my mom ("Ms. RealLastName"), which she started using in the 70s being the feminist rebel she is. I don't correct them if they say Mrs., but I've found talking about the history of the title helps a lot. But regardless of any of that...
ZOMGYAYS for ERIN!
Congratulations, Erin!
(Sorry about the thread confusion, ita.)
Wonderful news, Erin!!
Sarah, I didn't change my name and I deposit checks that my grandmother and great-aunt make out to "Mr. and Mrs. Thomas W." I think as long as you have a joint checking account it shouldn't be a problem.
Erin, Woo! And might I add, Hoo!
