Apr 3, 2009

Angry!!

Ok, so today is the day that you can call me a hypocrite for complaining about living in Italy. I can't believe that it came so soon. I still love living here don't get me wrong, but today I am very angry with the Italian Government!!!!

I read this last night in a military document that was sent to me:
Currently, United States citizens who give birth while living in Italy do not have the freedom to name their child(ren) as they choose. Under Italian law, a parent and child cannot share the first name even if the middle name is different, nor can children have suffixes or hyphenated last names. Such limitations remove the ability for families to continue important family traditions when naming their children.

WHAT THE HEC!!! So basically, that means that if we have a boy, we are legally unable to name him Reamer Welker Argo V while we are here in Italy! I am furious!

I don't care if by Italian law I am unable to do it, if we have a boy our childs name WILL BE REAMER WELKER ARGO V!! I will "legally" name him something else but will call him REAMER WELKER ARGO V. And as soon as we move back to the U.S. we will legally change it to the correct name! I don't care what we have to do, it will happen.

Seriously, this is so important to me. I love Reamer so much and I love his name. I have always wanted to have a son and name him after the love of my life, and to continue this neat family tradition. We don't even know if we will have a boy or a girl yet, but the thought that I can not legally name my own child really makes me angry!!!!!!!

Apparently, this issue was brought up at the Army Family Action Plan Meeting and may possibly be something that our government may try to fix, but there are many requests and who knows if it will make it to the final list. Hopefully something will change but there will probably not be any results before we have the baby.

Sorry that I have taken such a negative tone with this blog but I am just furious right now!

12 comments:

Jessica said...

This and the gross state of the hospitals is exactly why I think I will go home and give birth there, even if I will have to pay out of pocket. This policy is totally ridiculous!

Kaysha Patel said...

OMG that is completely ridiculous!!! I think I even said something about the baby carrying on Reamer's name (if it's a boy!)when I posted a message after you said you were pregnant!! That is so crazy.

Anonymous said...

What the Hay?? Ya'll come home in Oct. and have baby Reamer at Ft. Benning. We'll set up all you need at g-ma's and if u need help to fly home- let us know. This is NUTS!!!!!
Mom

Anonymous said...

Linda Jones told me that if the baby is born on base that is considered on American soil and that law will not apply. Check into it.
Love, Mom

Uma and Wil said...

That's insane! I heard there was no military hospital nearby in Vicenza like we do here with Landstuhl, although there seems to be a birthing center. I just can't believe their government granted themselves this kind of power and no one ever tried to tell them that they were crazy. Good luck to you! How about if you just casually come for a visit here in September and "accidentally" have a baby in Germany? Landstuhl has a fabulous Labor and Delivery and Mother and Baby Unit. Think about it!

whippetmom said...

That is nuts! I can't believe they can get away with that!!

Sara said...

That is crazy! I can't believe that they can do that! How can they have so much control over something like this?

Kaysha Patel said...

Hey - I just saw the news about the earthquake in Italy...please blog and let us know that you and Reamer are safe!!!

Anonymous said...

CONGRATULATIONS! We are so happy for you. Jonathan and his wife Kim are also expecting in Oct.
Celia & Jeff

kyesha smith said...

That is crazy! What is up with that? Don't worry...your backup plan is the right plan. Remember I changed Lexi's name, not for the same reason, but it was easy. That is your baby...and he will be Reamer V if you want him to be...and he will be a beautiful Reamer V too :) I hope it's a boy!

KC said...

Yes, I saw that too...which makes us happy to be having a girl right now. But I think the penalty is just a 6 month delay in the birth certificate, social security and passport....woodywoo!!!!! I would take it!

Tiny pieces of me... said...

Hi, My name is Dawn, my family and I just moved to Vicenza in March. I read your blog sometimes because I find insperation in your travels and your spunk!! I read this blog and thought that I would let you know that I just took a class on post and they were telling us about this Italian law but they also told us that they just came to an agreement to exempt american babies. As long as one parent is american. You may want to check but I am pretty sure they corrected this now. Good luck and congrats on your pregnancy!