Thank you for explaining this -- I've wondered about it for years!
> I'm glad that sometimes the practice years ago was to make the
> mothers maiden name the middle name of the children. Sure gives
> you a name to look for, for mother.
I agree. Has it been phased out in modern times?
> Actually, women should keep their maiden names and not take
> their husbands. They lose all their identies when they do.
> And in these days, that is important to us. How do friends
> that knew us before we were married find us.
This is your opinion, and I respect that. However, in MY case, I added
my husband's surname to my name, so I consider my legal name to be
Shirley Elizabeth Maples Killingsworth. Please note that I do NOT
hyphenate it; some women prefer to. By adding my hubby's surname I do
NOT feel I've "lost" my identity in any way. Actually, part of my
identity is BEING his wife and partner.
> Seeing as the telephone company usually only puts in husbands
> names, maybe it is time that they started putting in us women
> with our maiden names.
This may depend upon the phone company. Have you asked yours what their
policy is? For US West (my local company), they'll use whatever listing
you request as long as it's within their guidelines. I know several
divorced women who use their maiden names in the directories -- and any
call they receive asking for them by that name is geneally a
soliciation....or an old friend.
Shirley
Seattle