To dislike the use of the phrase 'mini me' to describe a DC

[TheIronGnome]

It doesn't matter at all in the grand scheme of things, but this is something I've noticed more and more, recently.

It just seems a bit like not seeing a child as their own person, and an extension or copy of yourself. I'm not normally as precious about such things but for some reason this one irritates me.

Lil man, bub or lil princess are just as grating, but not in the same way IYSWIM.

[patronisingbitchinthewardrobe]

Its extremely disrespectful to the child as an autonomous individual but I'm assuming that the mothers who use that term are too dim to notice.

[HighwayDragon]

Dim, nice

I'll say it occasionally when dd comes out with something I would say, or does something exactly the same way I'd do it.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

You are way way way over thinking. It's possible to see your traits in your kids.

Why does every term.of endearment have to be twisted to be so sinister all the time.

[slightlyworriednc]

I say one of mine is a 'mini DH' cos he's the spitting image of him! It's descriptive, not a term of endearment.
But nice to know I'm dim.

[slightlyworriednc]

Patronisingbitchinthewardrobe, your name suits you beautifully!

[MrsPiggie]

My DD is mini-me. She looks exactly like I did at her age, and is the spitting image of me down to her little toes. Yes, I know, I must be terribly dim.

[DoughnutSelfie]

One of my kids is a mini me in looks. It's quite bizarre as he's a boy and I ain't. Anyway I don't refer to him as a mini me, he's a person in his own right.

Well that was a helpful contribution!

[CalamitouslyWrong]

I often describe DS2 as a 'mini-daddy' (to him) and he describes himself as such. He loves the idea of being just like his dad. It doesn't mean I don't see him as a person in his own right, just that I can see lots of similarities between him and his father. They can be hilariously similar sometimes.

[TheIronGnome]

Wouldn't have said it made anyone dim... I've got friends who use the phrase and they aren't dim! They use it affectionately, it just grates!

[exexpat]

I occasionally used to describe DD as a mini-me, as did other people, as she looks so like me. But she is now 12 and bigger than me - does that make her a maxi-me?

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Then with all due respect you need to get out more.

Or perhaps you could publish a list of approved phrases allowed for talking about out children.

[JingleSpud]

I must be terribly dim then. DD1 is the spitting image of me so she gets called a mini me. DD2 is the spitting image of her dad/auntie so she gets called 'Mini Auntie'.

I never realised that we were such a dim family.

[patronisingbitchinthewardrobe]

Dim, nice hmm
I can only speak as I find.

[Moln]

It originates from Austin Powers.

Generally just means a child is similar, not that the parent thinks the child isn't their own person.

YANBU to dislike it, each to their own but YABU to project your interpretation of it as the reason those that use it as being why they use it.

[SugarPlump]

I find bub, little princess, mummy's no1 little man insanely grating!

Mini me, really not, it's a physical description a lot of the time, like previous posters have said its that acknowledgement they look like one parent or another.

Also there was a thread on here about a 7 year old wanting a matching jumper with their mum, the kids like it, it gives them a sense of belonging, a sense of "I'm like my parents". And who better to recognise traits of your self in than your kids.

[wigglesrock]

Oh for the love of God, I sometimes call my youngest daughter my husbands mini me, because she is. Every arm fold, every sigh, every shrug, the way she stands, the rhythm of her speech, her huffiness, her sense of humour. It's unnerving to watch - I could always say "it's like he spat her out" - better?

[meditrina]

I find bubs, princess and most phrases starting "little" (or worse, "lil") to be unbearably twee (and their extreme rarity on MN is an aspect of the site).

I call my DC all sorts of things, and am dim enough to have used "mini me" of DS2 whose gait is exactly like his father's and, when walking behind them when they were wearing roughly the same colour Tshirt and jeans, I thought really did look like the same item in different sizes.

[DialsMavis]

My DD is a mini me, the resemblance is staggering, we are both also extremely thick

[Fanfeckintastic]

Katie, is that you?

[TheLastThneed]

Deary me...

[AtlanticDrift]

My ds really was mini me. Dh is as bald as a coot and for halloween a few years back they both wore suits and a white swim cap on ds head. He was 3 at the time. Hilarious

[BoysiesBack]

YABU. It's a descriptive term.

I say DS2 is my mini me all the time. Not in looks, because he's the image of DH, but in personality he's my double. But apparently, saying that instead of listing the 20 traits he has makes me stupid and ignorant of his individuality

[TheIronGnome]

Ah! Austin Powers, I'd forgotten about that! That would make more sense!

[TheIronGnome]

I'd also like to point out that I've not called anyone stupid or dim- that was patronising bitch

[ZanyMobster]

I just assumed it was from Austin Powers as obviously mini me is made up to look exactly like Dr Evil. I have only ever heard it in that context really ie a child who is similar to a parent.

It is a bit odd to read into it that a parent who uses that phrase sees the child as an extension of themselves and not as an individual.

MN is really odd sometimes.