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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to feel slightly queasy when a woman describes herself as a mummy?

130 replies

MardyBra · 04/04/2013 12:46

I'm a mother, or a mum.

The kids called me mummy when they were little, but I find it too cutesy when a grown woman describes herself as a "mummy".

Especially on a blog.

OP posts:
yaimee · 04/04/2013 12:48

Who cares?

MardyBra · 04/04/2013 12:48

"Who cares?"

Well it's not a big deal, but who cares about anything on aibu?
In fact, what is the point? Why are we here?

OP posts:
MardyBra · 04/04/2013 12:49

Actually you've got a point yaimee. It's not worth a bunfight. I retract.

OP posts:
MissyMooandherBeaverofSteel · 04/04/2013 12:49

I do it sometimes, the same as I say sockies and shoesies or say 'oh flippy flops' instead of 'fuck it' when I'm out . Its a habit and is easy to slip up if you are using the word all the time.

Putting it in a blog or saying it when your kids are grown up and its no longer part of your daily vocabulary is a bit Hmm though.

JassyRadlett · 04/04/2013 12:51

To be perfectly honest, I have a similar reaction to people describing themselves as either a mummy or a mum. So I suspect we all have different tolerance levels.

yaimee · 04/04/2013 12:53

Grin here on earth or here on mumsnet, this could get philosophical!

OzmaofOz · 04/04/2013 12:53

Do you think it's force of habit ?

My Dts are only 2 so still call me Mummy, but I do wonder if I will always sign their birthday cards from Mummy or if it wears off in time.
My Aunt still calls her parents Mummy and Daddy, but they are posh.

MardyBra · 04/04/2013 12:55

Even when my kids called me "mummy", I would have never described myself as one. It just sounds twee to my ears. No biggie though (regretting starting the thread).

OP posts:
fedupofnamechanging · 04/04/2013 12:55

I don't describe myself as a mum, unless I am having a specific conversation about dc related topics.

I suppose parenthood does define me, in that I would have a completely different life if I wasn't a parent and they are the most important people in the world to me. But having them hasn't altered who I am, as a person.

I would always prefer to be described as karma rather than X's mum.

Mummy is twee if used by anyone other than a small child and women who use it to describe themselves to other people want shooting need to reclaim their identities.

MardyBra · 04/04/2013 12:57

"I don't describe myself as a mum, unless I am having a specific conversation about dc related topics."

Absolutely.

OP posts:
yaimee · 04/04/2013 12:57

It's a welcome break from Philpots and welfare to be honest (regrets criticising thread)!

CandlestickOlder · 04/04/2013 12:58

Yanbu

TheOrchardKeeper · 04/04/2013 12:58

I add the 'ee' noise to every other fucking word because I have a toddler so often accidently call myself a mummy...then want to fucking slap myself for it.

Does that help Hmm

am ill & snappy

MardyBra · 04/04/2013 12:59

yaimee
This has to be the most restrained aibu ever:

"AIBU?
Who gives a shit?
OK, I retract.
In fact, it's OK."

We must do this more often.

OP posts:
Fairydogmother · 04/04/2013 13:00

i hate and loathe the term 'mummy'

and reserve a special loathing for people who refer to themselves as 'yummy mummys'

BOKE!

OzmaofOz · 04/04/2013 13:00
Grin
TheOrchardKeeper · 04/04/2013 13:00

^ I spose that means ynbu...though I don't see why it matters.

When older kids call their mums 'mummy' it makes me think of that bitty sketch from Little Britain

TheOrchardKeeper · 04/04/2013 13:01

THESE bags make me want to hurt people Grin

Guiltismymaster · 04/04/2013 13:01

I used 'mummy' when I was very young (3) , just like I said 'doggy', but it's creepy when you hear 20 yr olds saying 'mummy, I'm just going to look for daddy' Nooooo...

NeoMaxiZoomDweebie · 04/04/2013 13:02

mummysnet.com for women who LOVE being a Mummy. Mummy Mummy Mummy

It's a tit of a word. I always think of Egyptian Mummies too...

MardyBra · 04/04/2013 13:02

I can see that Orchard. The inclusion of a cupcake rubs salt into the wound.

OP posts:
Fairydogmother · 04/04/2013 13:03

orchard that picture has just made me shudder lol

SoniaGluck · 04/04/2013 13:03

I don't mind so much what other people choose to call themselves but I never referred to myself as a 'mummy' or even a 'mum'. If I ever had to say anything I said a 'mother'.

We lived in France for several years and it is very common there to refer to 'les mamans' and I didn't care very much for that, either.

I know it is pretty trivial as things go but it does grind my gears just a little bit.

I think that IABU, though. Grin

yaimee · 04/04/2013 13:04

Grin no one is being unreasonable! Shock Shock

ItsallisnowaFeegle · 04/04/2013 13:04

I'm mum or 'ma' to my teen dd, depending on how Scottish she feels Grin

I am, however, mummy to my 17 week old DS.

I think being a mummy is absolutely fine when they're little. I'd be concerned if dd still called me mummy though.