Hyphenated last names

[agzg]

Live-in doesn't care what I do but he is not willing to change his last name. I can respect that, because if I don't choose to change my maiden name then how can I expect him to change his last name?

I've thought about keeping my maiden name but answering to Mrs. Live-in if people choose to call me that. Especially considering that people mess up my first name all the time (which is hilarious to me, considering it's an especially common name for people in my age group) and I still answer. I guess it's just not that important to me, though, because I've also seriously considered taking his last name mostly because there are already five Ms./Mrs./Miss zgs in my family anyway, and no Ms./Mrs./Miss -Ins in his (his mother goes by her maiden name, especially since his parents' divorce).

I do think I'd prefer to have the kids have his last name though. But I suppose that depends on whose health insurance package wins - his or mine. I'd prefer that it be obvious that these children are covered by either him or me. Of course, that could always change as well.

I guess that was a long-winded way of saying that this is the first time I've really thought about it in earnest, so it's really not that important to me.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by agzg

Live-in doesn't care what I do but he is not willing to change his last name. I can respect that, because if I don't choose to change my maiden name then how can I expect him to change his last name?

I've thought about keeping my maiden name but answering to Mrs. Live-in if people choose to call me that. Especially considering that people mess up my first name all the time (which is hilarious to me, considering it's an especially common name for people in my age group) and I still answer. I guess it's just not that important to me, though, because I've also seriously considered taking his last name mostly because there are already five Ms./Mrs./Miss zgs in my family anyway, and no Ms./Mrs./Miss -Ins in his (his mother goes by her maiden name, especially since his parents' divorce).

I do think I'd prefer to have the kids have his last name though. But I suppose that depends on whose health insurance package wins - his or mine. I'd prefer that it be obvious that these children are covered by either him or me. Of course, that could always change as well.

I guess that was a long-winded way of saying that this is the first time I've really thought about it in earnest, so it's really not that important to me.

With coordinated health benefits, they go by whose birthday comes first in the year. My kids are covered by both of us, but his used to trump because his bday is March 2nd and mine is March 10th. However, it's never a guarantee on which of you will be covering them. With him unemployed, it's all on me right now.