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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To dislike 'pennies' being used when paying for things with children?

186 replies

sparklediamonds · 07/09/2017 20:16

Does anyone hear this a lot or is it just me?

"Give the lady your pennies ... Mummy hasn't got any pennies ..."

Grr. Just say "money" FFS!

OP posts:
OvariesBeforeBrovaries · 07/09/2017 21:24

I thought it was just me Grin I'm generally very laid back in the "stupid shit people say when they become parents" stakes, but "pennies" grates. As does "hoddilay" and "spendies". I'm looking at you, ILs

TaggieRR · 07/09/2017 21:24

Thanks tapandgo. What a strange saying, wonder where it came from!

steff13 · 07/09/2017 21:25

Oh, and I've never heard anyone here tell a child to give someone their pennies, unless they were actually talking about pennies. We would just say, "give her/him your money."

Crowdie · 07/09/2017 21:25

food shopping.

Not good shopping

Piggywaspushed · 07/09/2017 21:26

Because the boy used to come round on his messenger bike with his stuff and then eventually we 'went out for the messages' I believe.

Sandwiches are 'pieces' too....

Piggywaspushed · 07/09/2017 21:28

I am feeling indignant on behalf of pennies that they are being grouped with twee things such as tummy and doggy!

Are you folk also annoyed by ;coppers' ? -and people who say folk--

Piggywaspushed · 07/09/2017 21:28

Obviously I meant 'coppers' for 'pennies' or coins!

PyongyangKipperbang · 07/09/2017 21:30

It's up there with hubbies and holibobs

Except that they are made up words and pennies isnt. Hmm

Starlight2345 · 07/09/2017 21:32

I am the opposite..I used to tell my Ds every coin was a pound no matter what coin it was..He was happy whatever he got..Then decided it was time to update when they started learning money at school..lol.

engineersthumb · 07/09/2017 21:32

This never occurred to me but I'll be sure to say "give the lady your pennies" the next time I'm in the shops with my son... and until he is at least 35!Grin

oldmanfromscene24 · 07/09/2017 21:34

I said this once to my DS. 'I don't have enough pennies for that water gun'. He replied 'well pay with a ticket then' (note) Grin

BoysofMelody · 07/09/2017 21:34

No so much irritating this one, but slightly odd...

My sister had a baby six months ago.

Ever since she gave birth out mother has referred to my sister as 'Gertrude's mum'* rather than by her name. For example 'Gertrude's fine, but Gertrude's mum is worn out with her'.

I'm not sure if she hasn't quite got over the novelty that her daughter has a daughter of her own, but it really grinds my gears, as if my sister -who despite staggering academic achievements - is now reduced to a milk factory and arse wiper for Gertrude the baby.

*Gertrude is not the baby's real name.

Battyoldbat · 07/09/2017 21:37

But pennies are a thing. It's the plural of penny??
Well yes, and in that context pennies are not in the least bit rage-inducing. It's in the euphemistic replacement of money that it grates.
As in, give the lady your pennies when something costs a fiver. Or 'he's saving up his pennies', when used when talking about a teenager saving up money.

steff13 · 07/09/2017 21:37

Gertrude is not the baby's real name.

Thank goodness! Grin

BenLui · 07/09/2017 21:38

I use the word pennies when talking to my children, but generally only when I'm talking about their money e.g. "Auntie Jean has kindly sent you some pennies" or "have you brought your pennies with you?".

But then I'm Scottish and also say messages, pictures and ginger (and all sorts of other things even less comprehensible to MN)

I pretty much don't care whether the OP or anyone else dislikes my usage. Grin

Piggywaspushed · 07/09/2017 21:41

Just to put in my two pennies worth

it's worth every penny

save your pennies for a rainy day

pennies from heaven

spending your pennies wisely

All perfectly well known and used expressions! It's idiom, not euphemism...??

AnnieAnoniMouse · 07/09/2017 21:41

BoysofMelody. That's A Grade batshit. I'd be telling her I'm taking her to Gertrude's Granny's Doctor if she keeps that up!

Oblomov17 · 07/09/2017 21:42

Can't be bothered to get het up about it.

MrsHathaway · 07/09/2017 21:53

Third person is useful before children develop an understanding of deixis, and by then you've got used to it.

My speech-delayed 3y10mo is only just coming out of that phase - he can use pronouns but still uses third person sometimes. I end up mirroring him, so I'll say something like "Shall Mummy click you in, or do it?"

I also say pennies because that's what he calls physical metal coins and that's what he understands money to be. I think I'd sound like more of a twat saying "Give those coins to the lady" than "those pennies" though I'd probably as often say "the money".

Dixiechickonhols · 07/09/2017 21:54

My grandma always said she was going to spend a penny for going to the toilet

SpaghettiAndMeatballs · 07/09/2017 21:56

Thinking about it, I'd use pennies, with little ones, if they were coins (ie. I'm not explaining to a 3 year old the difference between a euro and a 50p piece - they can just all be 'pennies') but once they're old enough to get an inkling of what money is, of quantity, yes, I use real words - coin, note, money, the names of the individual coins etc.

Happydoingitjusttheonce · 07/09/2017 21:58

I never said it to my kid when he was little but now he's a teenager I say it ironically. "Will you move your arse now if you want a lift to the station as I've got to go out and earn pennies to pay for your expensive shit"

Leavingonajet · 07/09/2017 22:00

I use pennies with my DC but as I am Scottish I am hoping that I'll be let off. It was a pretty normal phrase where I grew up.

Original poster
sparklediamonds · 07/09/2017 22:02

I might teach DD "Mummy hasn't got her magic card!"

OP posts:
BestZebbie · 07/09/2017 22:03

(Not being Scottish) it always reminds me of Enid Blyton - a paralell world where all children transact in pre-decimal currency and a sixpence is a significant amount of money.