She Morphed Into Munk

I am not a big fan of nick names.  I had/have one...Sissy.  I despised it.  The way I looked at it, it wasn't a name at all, just a definition.  I was a sister, so they called me Sissy.  I tried to name my children names that could not be shortened.  I think I did a pretty good job, but inevitably someone is called by a nick name.

When Jordan was younger, I playfully called her Georgy Porgy.  Seth was Seth Monster.  Jack is still called Jack Sandwich, compliments of our friend Dan, when he put Jack between 2 pillows and made him into a sandwich.  I never call Ivy anything playful.  Nothing really fits.  Eva is usually lovingly called Eva Beneva just because it rhymes so well.  Then we have Joy.  Joy is lovingly called Munk by her big brother Seth.

As I sat next to Munk on the sofa, nursing some fresh knee wounds, I thought about her name, Joy.  Despite her temper and the stress she causes me on a daily basis, she is a joyful Joy.  Even after throwing her daily fit, I can usually make her happy again with just a hug and a smile.  She started on the fit path when she fell and bloodied both knees.  This incident was enough to put Joy in a rage, stomping her feet angrily that she was hurt.  She asked for band aids.  I told her only after she stopped getting so upset would I bandage up her wounds.  As I was washed off her knees, I thought of her Chinese name, Chun Meng, pronounced Chun Mung.  I'd call her Chun Meng occasionally.  Seth picked up on it, changed it to Chunka Munka.  Eventually, it morphed into the shortened form of Munk.  It kind of suits her.  I love hearing Seth every morning greet Joy with "'Morning Munk!"