Rock, Paper, Scissors, SHOOT!
Oh yes we seriously did. We seriously just decided the whole name change debacle with rock, paper, scissors. The stakes? If Mr.D won we’d either both take my last name as a second middle and his as our communal last; I’d also retain middle name rights or my surname as a first name for our future kids. If I won? We’d both double barrel and so would our future kids. We played best out of five to determine the winner.
The results? Mr.D won 3 out of five and we had one draw.
As far as the name changing goes we had reached a stalemate. Mr.D didn’t want to upset his family and I didn’t want anyone else dictating my choices. After yet another day of irritated discussion, going to our separate corners and me pouring over WB name changing posts and Indie Bride Kvetch I somehow came up with the rock, paper, scissors idea. If we can’t decide, let “fate” decide. While there is obviously game theory and strategy involved in “ro sham bo” neither Mr.D or I are at a skill level that would dominate the other to create an unfair advantage. It really seemed like the fairest option.
Mr.D’s main concern was that if I lost (and I tend to be a wee bit of a sore loser) that I’d be unhappy or bitter about the outcome. So he had to take several minutes to consider whether or not he really wanted this important decision to come down to a child’s game. He acquiesced and we layed out the ground rules, which, basically were best out of five, and release on the word shoot. But hey, it’s over now, and we’ve made a decision. Yay for making decisions!
These past two weeks, I’ve just been all about the decision making. There are so many that need to be made, I just want to get them over with. I’m probably most happy with this decision being finalized, more so than the flowers, centerpieces or cakes (obviously). But also because this particular decision has caused me so much strife. Several times a week I’d get pretty upset about the whole thing and I’m kinda glad it’s over, and was decided fair and square. I’m pretty content with the decision in the end, Mr.D incorporates my last name into his and our non existent children will for sure be given my birth name and the history associated with it in some way or another.
How did you decide the name change issue?
July 19th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
I was never that attached to my last name and I’m pretty traditional, so there was never a doubt that I would take my husband’s name. And I love it.
July 21st, 2009 at 9:05 am
I love my surname. It doesn’t define me but it defines my career and I would find it difficult to change it for work.
However, I think I would be quite content to double barrel because I want my children to share my name. However I am not sure my boy wants to change his name. Roll on scissors, paper, stone!