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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to want to tell DD not to call me "Mummy"?

47 replies

GiserableMitt · 04/12/2011 06:45

She's coming up 13 and has been calling me "Mum" for years; DS who's 7 also calls me Mum.

Recently she's started calling me "Mummy", not at home (very often) but in public and on Facebook.

She has a friend who does this, and with both of them it's usually "Thank you, Mummy" in a sickly-sweet voice whilst going all wide-eyed and "coy".

It makes my fucking teeth itch. Do I just let her get on with it and hope it passes or should I tell her I find it irritating and ask her not to do it?

OP posts:
Shutupanddrive · 04/12/2011 06:47

Oh difficult one! I would just grin and bear it I think, sounds like a stage she's going through after hearing her friend say it

Birdsgottafly · 04/12/2011 06:48

If you find it irritating then tell her, she will find something else to annoy you with, though, as nearly 13 year olds do (especially girls).

Backtobedlam · 04/12/2011 07:01

Ah, I think it's quite sweet-I much prefer mummy to mum, but mine are only little still. I agree it's probably just a phase, and a bit of wanting to fit in with her friend. I don't think I'd say anything, I can remember feeling very rejected by my mum at that age when she asked me to stop cuddling her and give her some space! Im sure she'll just grow out of if, there's a lot worse names she could be using for you.

MinesaGandT · 04/12/2011 07:04

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SilveryMoon · 04/12/2011 07:04

Agree with bedlam I can imagine it's v annoying, but I'd just leave her to call you mummy (let's face it, at 13, she could be calling you a lot worse) and wait for it to pass.

Morloth · 04/12/2011 07:12

Like MinesaGandT I think I would be responding with the baby coochy coos if she is just being a snot.

CailinDana · 04/12/2011 07:33

Yeah I like the coochy-coo option, I think that'll embarrass her enough to stop the "mummy" malarkey. I don't blame you for wanting to stop it - it sounds like she's saying it in a nasty rather than a sweet way.

Original poster
GiserableMitt · 04/12/2011 07:45

Off to think up a sickly-sweet name for DD.... Xmas Wink

OP posts:
1Catherine1 · 04/12/2011 07:46

My mum never allowed us to call her "mummy" EVER. She hated it and so we never used it- apart from the odd time when we were making a point usually when I felt she was treating me like a baby so I responded like one. Made sense as a teenager. Confused

exoticfruits · 04/12/2011 07:50

I would just be direct-tell her that it irritates you and you want her to stop. If that fails then be equally irritating everytime she speaks to you with a sickly 'my little lamb' or similar. She will stop-especially if you do it in public. (I would do the direct first, because then she has been asked the nice way)

KittyFane · 04/12/2011 08:05

YANBU. It's insincere and code for "I've got what I want - thank you mum-eeee"
I'd hate it too. I wouldn't do it back to her. Instead I'd just say if she wants you do do anything for her (lift, money etc) she stops.

whatdoiknowanyway · 04/12/2011 09:00

Mine call me Mum usually, mother when I've done something wrong, mummy when they want something and mumma when I've done something good for them.
They're 18 and 19 and this has been going on for years. I remember a very small child calling me 'mudda'

Crabapple99 · 04/12/2011 09:04

This behaviour is disrespectful, and is intended to "make your teeth itch"

cuttingpicassostoenails · 04/12/2011 09:35

Call her sweetiepoops. Especially in front of her friends.

Beaverfeaver · 04/12/2011 09:39

I am 26, I still call her mummy.

Always called her mummy, but when I got to about 15 or so, I stopped and called her mum. She didn't like it, so she will be mummy forever.

She is in never never land where people never grow up though.

I must sound like a freak now

PeggyCarter · 04/12/2011 09:47

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AnyoneforTurps · 04/12/2011 09:47

YANBU to be irritated. But don't show it - that's what she wants. And she's 13 so if you stop her calling you Mummy, she'll find something even worse to annoy you.

Pretend you haven't noticed.

fluffytowels · 04/12/2011 09:52

YABU. She may be doing it to be annoying but.

I am the youngest in my family and I very clearly remember being 13 very traumatic. The thought of being a grown up terrified me, even though I was very 'mature and sensible'

Maybe ( and I could be completely off the mark) it's a showy way trying to be a little girl for a bit longer.

I sense over the next 5 years this will be the least of your worries Grin

Jux · 04/12/2011 09:55

I remember my friend's son at 13 suddenly started using a baby voice and baby talk to his mum. I think fluffytowels has the right of it.

Florin · 04/12/2011 09:58

I am 28 and still call my parents Mummy and Daddy nothing else has ever been allowed. My 97 year old grandma is also called Mummy by all her children including my uncle who is over 70. It's family tradition in our house.

CogitoErgoSometimes · 04/12/2011 10:05

YANBU. Doesn't really matter what the word is, if it's delivered with sarcasm and in a patronising manner then she's taking the piss. Best form of attack is probably to ignore her when she says it in front of her friend... and then give her a piece of your mind once the friend has gone and she's not feeling quite so brave :)

eurochick · 04/12/2011 10:26

In my world it is only simpering posh kids who call their mother mummy over the age of about 5. I know a 40ish yo lawyer who does it. I find it icky.

PaulaMummyKnowsBest · 04/12/2011 12:57

I am still Mummy to my three (13, 11 and 7) and DH is Daddy.

I really dislike "mum" and like "mother" even less so for mow, we are stuck at mummy and daddy and i have no issues with that at all

UnexpectedOrange · 04/12/2011 12:59

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MrsvWoolf · 04/12/2011 13:02

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