To think a grown up shouldn't call their mother 'mummy'

[shebird]

Is it just a bit weird hearing a 40 year grown old woman call her mum 'Mummy' all the time. It just grates on me.
AIBU?

I got slated on here a few years ago for suggesting that mummy and daddy from an adult was a little Enid Blyton. I still think in my part of the world it's only used by those who are a bit posh.

I changed from mummy and daddy to mum and dad about 8 or 9 and couldn't understand why my dad was a little sad about it. My own DSs changed over at secondary school age, and I was a little sad when DS3 started calling me mum.

If they are speaking directly to the person, they can call them whatever they like. If they are talking to me and they say for example "I'm visiting mummy" instead of "I'm visiting my mummy/mum/mother/mama etc" I just think to myself "she's not my mum" still none of business though.

I call my mother, Mum, and my father, Daddy. It's what he prefers, and tbh it's his name - my take on it's that it's like someone saying, 'Can you not call me Bob, I like Robbie better?'

So what is the exact age that I should be expecting my children to change from calling one thing and start calling me another? Is it the -y on the end that offends people? There are some on the thread who are saying that adding -y to a word makes it babyish eg horsey, doggy, etc. But adding it to a name is different. Imo adding a -y to a name is a form of endearment, eg Danny, Olly, Ellie, Rosie etc. It is not baby-fying their name, it is a way of expressing your familiarity with them. So why do some people think there is a magical cut off age when one should stop being so familiar with your parents? I still call my dad Daddy now. I'm not posh, it's just what I've always called him.

Think about the scene in The Railway Children. Would it be nearly so emotional if she called out "Dad!" instead of "my Daddy?" Horses for courses - I think Dad is a bit impersonal but would consider it incredibly rude to tell someone who has always called their dad that. Yet somehow people who call their father Daddy are considered fair game.

So what is the exact age that I should be expecting my children to change from calling one thing and start calling me another?

There is no exact age, but I, like lots of children, developed a sense of self-conciousness and embarrassment when I was about 10. I thought I sounded silly saying mummy and daddy, I knew other kids said mum and dad, and I had enough attitude at that age to defy my mum.

I think it's a personal thing and none of other people's business what you call your parents. I always called my parents Mummy and Daddy - my dad died when I was 26 and my mum when I was 40. I never thought of either as Mum and Dad as they were mine and I am an only. I could choose what to call them. But I always referred to my mum as "me mum" in a Lancashire accent.

My daughter has Aspergers and has always alternated between between Mummy and Daddy and our first names. People think it is awful when she says my name but I explain everyone else also calls their parents Mummy and Daddy or Mum and Dad but our first names are individual.

So I think it is a personal choice what you call your parents - they aren't other people's so they can call theirs Mum and Dad or Ma and Pa or Mother and Father or by their first names.

I wish my Mum was still here to call her Mummy...

I called my parents Mum and Dad in public, but at home it was usually Mummy and daddy, but used in a pet -name sort of way.

My youngest child (15) calls me Mother, though I wish he wouldn't ,( especially when he thinks he knows better than me !) . My eldest two call us Mummy and Daddy when they want something...

In RL I use "mom" but on Facebook/when I want something it's always "Mommeeeeeeeeee"

My 18 yo DS still calls me Mummy. We're Brits in the US though so may get away with it than if we were living in London!

I'm 30 and call my mum mummy, because I'm Irish. Mum is posh.

YABU. What the fuck has it got to with you, what someone calls their parents? Their family, their choice. It's not exactly abusive! It might not be to your taste - and that's absolutely fine - but it might be a way of showing affection.

I'm 30s and switch between mummy/daddy and mum/dad. Most people I know use mum/dad but I know one of just used their parents first names. I wouldn't and I don't really give it a second though as its none of my business. They don't have to justify or explain themselves to me or anyone else.

What else to you judge strangers on?

*What else do you judge strangers on? Bloody phone!

Presumably some posters here will be like the delightful mother whose 10 year old daughter had the temerity to call her "Mummy" on collection from Guide camp (c2004 I think). "Mummy" smacked her round the head & gave her a shake saying "what's a great lump like you calling me 'mummy' for?" - seeing as it pains you so much to hear it & find it so unbearable, I mean.

I use Mummy & Daddy - Irish family, though living in England, but in a corner of a city with lots of other Irish. Plus my mother died when I was 10, so I'd not much chance to call her anything else - and hence, I'm guessing, my father still referring to her as mummy when talking to me. My grandmothers were both Granny to me as well & one lived until I was an adult for me have been using it then - is that similarly unacceptable.

Jesus Mary & Joseph the things people take it on themselves to froth over & to judge others for.

Wasn't the character in The Railway Children a child though?

Thanks to Double Science my parents are known as Marbles and Parbles :o

Like a PP, I wish my mum (died in 1994) was still around for me to call her Mummy.

When my parents were alive, I'd alternate between Mum/Dad and Mummy/Daddy often.

I wrote something on FB about my daddy today, as it would be his birthday tomorrow.

I couldn't give a shiny shit if people think it's infantile; maybe if they lost their parents in their 20s like I did they might understand.

My kids call me Mum, Mummy or (if they're wheedling for something) Mumma. I hope they always do!

I'm 59 and have always called my mother - now 89- "mummy" my sons who are in their 20's call me "mummy" too. I just hate the word "mum" it conjurs up the image of a soppy woman with an old fashioned perm and a floral blouse. I always manage to find something suitable on mother's day - I wouldn't send mine anything with "mum" on it.

Most people call their mother whatever mother prefers, it's just nice. Otherwise it would be as if your siblings insist on calling you sheby whilst you asked to be shebird.