A mom has defended her decision to give her daughter a slightly unusual name after family and friends thought it was a slang term for cannabis.
When 33-year-old Canadian mom Tenille Bain and her partner Michael realised they were having a girl, they decided that the name ‘Chree’ – pronounced ‘Tree’ – might be a nice name after it was suggested as a joke.
Tenille loved it and saw the opportunity to stylise it in honour of her mum, Cheryl.
Advert
The problems all started, however, when they shared the news with their friends and relatives who were apparently ‘horrified’ at the suggestion, thinking that Tree was a reference to marijuana.
At this point, it’s worth mentioning that the full name is Chree Mary Jane, so you can maybe see their thinking.
The doubters have come around to the name now, and everyone loves ‘little baby Chree’.
Advert
The mum of two from Mississauga in Canada explained: “Multiple people have blatantly asked me why I’d choose to name my daughter Chree.
“People are just so afraid of change - they say they’re afraid she won’t get hired for jobs in the future, or she’ll be bullied in class.
“But in the same breath, she’ll go to school with a River, or a Brooke, or a Forrest. A lot of the comments try and find meaning in her name that isn't there - Chree is not named after marijuana.
Advert
“I think her name is beautiful."
The big news came at their gender reveal party back in 2018, when the name was told to the gathered guests.
“They went ballistic,” Tenille continued. “They told us that we were being crazy and that we couldn’t do it.
“Thankfully as soon as Chree was born, they learnt to accept it. She’s just our little baby Chree now, even at four-years-old.”
Advert
They’ve had some criticism online too, because people can be ‘hugely judgemental’ and see the online world as a ‘safe, anonymous space to say whatever they like’.
She added: “I had one person say they’d rip up an application if they saw Chree’s name on it.
“Some of the comments can be really loaded - someone said no-one would be able to pronounce it.
Advert
“I feel protective of my kids - but I also see it as an opportunity to teach them not to be prejudiced or judgemental.”
Anyway, not everyone is critical – some people have been really nice about it, especially those who actually meet Chree.
“People always say Chree’s personality perfectly complements her name,” she concluded.
“She’s very over-the-top, she sings and she dances. She’s just such a Chree.
“If I could say one thing to the TikTok haters about my kids’ names, it would be this - they’re names.
"They’re beautiful, and you need to be mindful when talking about children.”
Topics: Drugs, World News, Parenting, Weird