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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that adults should not call their parents 'mummy' and 'daddy

183 replies

magpiemay · 16/03/2017 13:50

It might be that work is really grating on me today but I really cannot tolerate it. I sit with a lady (in her mid 50s) who takes an awful lot of personal calls throughout the day. Particularly from her mum and she calls her 'mummy' throughout the whole call... is it totally unreasonable that this makes me cringe?

OP posts:
KungFuEric · 16/03/2017 13:51

Personal calls on work time, unreasonable.

People calling their parents what they like is their god damn business.

mrsm43s · 16/03/2017 13:52

How on earth does what she calls her parents affect you?

AuntiePenguin · 16/03/2017 13:52

My parents prefer those terms. I don't care, but use them as it makes them happy.

Why do you care? How does this affect you at all?

Original poster
magpiemay · 16/03/2017 13:55

well that told me!

I just find it a bit cringey that she is saying it repeatedly in a busy office.

She is also quite loud on the phone so it can be irritating when i am trying to work to have such a loud and personal conversation going on.

I have silly nicknames for family members but wouldn't use them in front of colleagues!

As I said work is grating today - I didn't mean to cause any offence!

OP posts:
Whywonttheyletmeusemyusername · 16/03/2017 13:55

I agree OP - I know it shouldn't matter to us, but it drives me insane. An elderly relative of mine still calls her parents mummy and daddy. Shes nearly 80.

CircleofWillis · 16/03/2017 13:55

You can call your own parents what you want and express your preferences to your own DC as to what you want to be called. Anything beyond that it is nothing to do with you and none of your business.

IamFriedSpam · 16/03/2017 13:56

It would make me cringe to do it but I don't care what other people call their parents. The constant personal calls during work would irritate me though.

goodiegoodieyumyum · 16/03/2017 13:58

I think it is infantalising, you are an adult mummy and daddy are what children call their parentsite.

llangennith · 16/03/2017 14:00

I agree is sounds strange but my DDs (40&45) still say mummy, DS (41) tries not to call me anything but I sign cards to him with 'mum'.
My sister made us stop calling our parents mummy and daddy when she was 14 (I was 17) and we were on holiday. I wasn't bothered but she found it embarrassingGrin

PuntCuffin · 16/03/2017 14:01

What should they be called then?

kerryob · 16/03/2017 14:03

I switch between dad/daddy when I speak to my Dad. It isn't anyone else's business what you call your parents same as Nan, nanny or grandma all affectionate names.

Mother & father are sterner and less affectionate that I would find odd

StinginBelle13 · 16/03/2017 14:03

Can't stand that. Wouldn't judge anyone for it and it's their choice to call them what they please but I absolutely hate it. It makes them sound so childish and immature. I'm sure they aren't, but that's how it sounds to me.

Annesmyth123 · 16/03/2017 14:03

Don't move to Ireland.

KittyWindbag · 16/03/2017 14:05

Ha, I Come from an extended family where some members refer to their parents as 'mummy and daddy' (me and my immediate family didn't).

It used to make me cringe so much when I was a teenager at family gatherings, especially because they were the 'posher' ones, if you like.

Now I'm grown up I think it's rather sweet. You never grow out of being someone's child or someone's mummy I suppose.

HairsprayBabe · 16/03/2017 14:06

I am 25 and still call my parents Mummy and Daddy. If I am referring to them in a conversation with someone else then I call them Mum and Dad.

I don't think it is weird, both my siblings do the same.

None of your business and a bit judgy of you TBH. However she shouldn't make personal calls in the office.

sirfredfredgeorge · 16/03/2017 14:07

Children over the age of 3 shouldn't call their parents mummy and daddy, it's horrible, horrible, horrible.

But of course, that's just my view, so the only people other than myself I can actually ask to change their behaviour are my children. Anyone else can do what they want, individuals have the right to be called whatever they want, so only children who refused their parents request to be known by a different name WBU.

purpleprickle · 16/03/2017 14:07

It is cringey.

I used to sit next to someone in the office who would kiss down the phone 🤢

Original poster
magpiemay · 16/03/2017 14:08

KittyWindbag I suppose I didn't think of it like that.

I would of course never say anything. I guess I just feel a little uncomfortable having no choice but to hear her personal calls and the terms of endearment perhaps make it feel even more personal!

Again - no judgement or offence intended just find it all very grating!

OP posts:
Elphame · 16/03/2017 14:08

It's a class thing too - "mummy and daddy" is smarter than "mum and dad".

hellsbellsmelons · 16/03/2017 14:08

mummy and daddy are what children call their parents
But I am their child - even if I am nearing 50.
I always sign off of a phone with my dad 'Love you Daddy' and he says 'Love you too princess'
I've always been a daddies girl.
But my mum tends to be mum unless it's in a card.
Weird!

LurkingHusband · 16/03/2017 14:09

Within our family (myself, 2DBs) it's "Mummy/Daddy".

In any other context "Mum" and "Dad".

Have no idea why ...

Original poster
magpiemay · 16/03/2017 14:09

purpleprickle kissing down the phone? that would be awful to have to listen to!!!

OP posts:
Chloe84 · 16/03/2017 14:09

I get it, OP. YANBU.

Tabbylady · 16/03/2017 14:12

I used to find it grating too until I made a lot of friends from the north of Ireland when I was at uni- they all seemed to used mummy (or mammy) and daddy!

Fwiw mine are mither and faither, but only when I am telling them off :D

kimann · 16/03/2017 14:12

Yabu. None of your business what I call my mummy and daddy. Grin

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