Thanks to Haley Hodge
Good things are frequently discovered where you least expect them to be.
Haley Hodge has gone beyond books and online in her quest for baby names as her due date approaches. This mother of three, who will soon become a mother of four, made the decision to search local cemeteries for names from earlier generations and former lives in order to find inspiration.
Hodge documented this extraordinary journey in a now-viral TikTok video that has elicited conflicting responses from its 2.5 million viewers. In the video, Hodge can be seen talking about names with her husband Rivers and their kids while touring the Old Smithville Burying Ground in Southport, North Carolina.
Thanks to Haley Hodge
Many viewers were moved by Hodge’s inventiveness and appreciated how she honored the memory of the deceased with her choice of names.
One individual remarked, “This is the first video I’ve ever seen like this; never would have thought about it.” But I adore this concept so much! particularly if you investigate the individual.
“This really is stunning. Another TikTok user said, “What a way to honor those that have passed away.”
Not everyone, though, had the same sentiments. The concept unnerved other viewers, who brought up beliefs about pregnant women not being allowed in cemeteries. Hodge tells PEOPLE that although she had always felt at ease in cemeteries, she had expected some criticism because of different cultural perspectives on death.
Thanks to Haley Hodge
“It seems to me like going to a site where people’s greatest friends, grandparents, and other loved ones are buried. It’s not an evil place, according to Hodge. “These are people who were good people who lived lives, hopefully good lives.”
Furthermore, Hodge finds it inconvenient to be close to the deceased.
She continues, “I don’t think spirits are restricted to cemeteries if they exist.” “We’re already surrounded by it; hospitals have morgues, and we have babies born above morgues.”
Hodge also remembers her own early years, when her mother would take the family on trips and visit graves to teach them about the local history.
Thanks to Haley Hodge
According to Hodge, “she realized we’d be more interested if it was a spooky story rather than just history.” “It just grabs your attention more, kind of like kids telling scary stories at a bonfire.”
Hodge had used more traditional means to find names for her first three children, Finley, 10, Banks, 1, and Crew, 3, frequently making notes of names she heard on television. When asked where her name came from, she wanted this fourth kid to be able to tell an intriguing backstory.
Thanks to Haley Hodge
In addition, Hodge made the decision to film their trip to the grave, hoping to show it to her daughter in the future. She had originally intended to keep the videos to herself, but she ultimately decided to share the naming process with everyone.
“At first, I wasn’t going to post them,” she acknowledges. However, I later decided that sharing this was sort of cool. I anticipated that because it was unique, it would draw attention.
I Discovered My Mother-in-Law and Husband’s Scheme to Conceal Food From Me Because I’m ‘Too Fat’ — I Retaliated Against Both of Them
Emily was appalled when she overheard her mother-in-law and husband plotting in hushed tones. Their plan to hide food from her because they thought she was “too fat” was deeply upsetting. Striving to put an end to this toxic behavior, Emily cleverly orchestrated a fitting revenge neither would anticipate.
“Honey, but you don’t want to live with an elephant, do you?” Noele’s voice rang from the kitchen.
I froze on the couch, my knitting needles suspended. Did I hear that correctly? My heart pounded as I strained to hear more.
“I don’t, but she’ll notice it and start asking questions,” my husband replied with uncertainty.
“Act clueless. I’ll remove all the food. I’m ashamed that my daughter-in-law is so large. She’s too fat,” Noele continued, her voice laced with contempt.
My heart felt as if it shattered into countless pieces. Three years ago, after having our son at 40, I struggled to regain my pre-pregnancy body.
I toiled long hours to support our family, even extending financial help to Noele when she needed it. How could she say such hurtful things about me?
Setting down my knitting, I stared at the wall, trying to process the conversation I had just overheard. Tears welled up, but I blinked them back. I didn’t want to break down now.
My phone buzzed, pulling me from my thoughts. I realized I had been sitting in a daze, replaying the events of the previous week when Noele had visited us.
Unbeknownst to me, the missing food was her doing. She had been stealthily clearing out the fridge, not wanting her son to be married to a “fat” woman.
Taking a deep breath, I checked the phone. It was a message from Alexander, my husband.
It read: “Hey honey, don’t wait up. My friends are insisting I stay a little longer :)”
Recently, he always seemed to have an excuse to stay out. I began to wonder if my weight was the reason. Did he really see me as an elephant?
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