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Original poster

Did you grow up calling your parents by their first names?

108 replies

annaak · 07/06/2024 18:38

I had a friend in primary school whose family did this - her Mum and Dad were always Sarah and Rick to their kids. My Mum used to hate it, she thought it was really affected. It really bothered her for some reason!

They weren’t especially hippy people, just quite relaxed middle class artsy parents (lots of music lessons and drama classes etc. in their house). I always quite liked the vibe of it and wondered if I would do the same with my own kids one day.

Anyway, got me wondering did any of you grow up doing this, or are any of you bringing up your children this way? Did you/do you find people are weird about it?

OP posts:
QuiltedBear · 07/06/2024 18:46

I have always called my parents by their first name. Apparently they weren’t comfortable calling each other Mummy and Daddy - they said it felt really affected - so they just stuck with their names and that’s what I learned.

But then when I started nursery I came out crying after the first day because everyone else had a Mummy and I didn’t! 😂

So DP and I have taught DS to use Mummy and Daddy, but if he wants to use my name instead in the future I won’t mind.

2Rebecca · 07/06/2024 18:46

No. My stepkids call me by my first name my son doesn't. Being called mum is special

BinLolly · 07/06/2024 18:44

I don't know any children who call their parents by their first names except those referring to step parents or guardians so I'd presume any child doing this was doing so because those people weren't mum and dad.

Original poster
annaak · 07/06/2024 18:44

FriedGold · 07/06/2024 18:42

No! Would find that so weird! I even call my aunties and uncles “auntie so and so” and “uncle blah blah” - feels rude to just use their names with no prefix, despite me being in my 40s!

Oh I HATE being called Aunty Anna, I always make my nieces and nephews call me just Anna. I find Aunty so OTT for some reason!

OP posts:
Original poster
annaak · 07/06/2024 18:43

@Summerof2024 oh that’s so interesting - why would you hate if your kids did it out of interest? And who started it with your parents - did it come from them or you?

OP posts:
Summerof2024 · 07/06/2024 18:42

Yes, still do. But I would hate it if my dc did it to me!

FriedGold · 07/06/2024 18:42

No! Would find that so weird! I even call my aunties and uncles “auntie so and so” and “uncle blah blah” - feels rude to just use their names with no prefix, despite me being in my 40s!

Hadalifeonce · 07/06/2024 18:41

It would never have entered my head to do this.
I would hate it if my children tried it. But my DH nephew sometimes calls his parents by their first names.