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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to cringe when adults call their parents mummy and daddy?

126 replies

Milly848 · 02/12/2018 18:32

A friend of mine still calls her parents mummy and daddy. She's 27, and she does it in public.

I asked her once (casually), and she said her parents have always insisted on it and thought mum/dad was disrespectiful.

Fair enough and I know it's none of my business, but I can't help but cringe a bit when I hear adults call their parents this. It just sounds childish and makes me think they're still treated like a child. Then again her parents do still finance her...

OP posts:
Mummadeeze · 02/12/2018 18:35

Sorry, I completely disagree. I am 44 and think that calling my parents anything other than Mummy and Daddy would be weird and sound wrong. It just depends how you have been brought up and what you are used to. Mum sounds horrible to me but I totally don’t judge others for using it as a name for their mother.

SerenDippitty · 02/12/2018 18:35

It’s a class thing I think.

Racecardriver · 02/12/2018 18:35

I cringe at mum and dad. Sounds horrid. I still call my father the name I used as a small child (pappa).

Tobuyornot99 · 02/12/2018 18:37

I can my Mam Mammy, maybe it's a Welsh thing, but most people locally do the same.

Giantbanger · 02/12/2018 18:38

Here we go again.

Common in Ireland.

Original poster
Milly848 · 02/12/2018 18:39

She's not Irish

OP posts:
Confusedbeetle · 02/12/2018 18:42

Ridiculous to cringe. Its none of your business

HighsandLows77 · 02/12/2018 18:45

i still call my parents mum and daddy, my dad has always been daddy to me and my siblings.

I’ve used it whilst being at work (was on the phone) and got a few people looking and quietly laughing but i didn’t mind. Smile

terfinginthevoid · 02/12/2018 18:45

I'm 56, still call my father "daddy", and my children call me "mummy". We're all financially independent adults. I think "mum" sounds naff, but I won't judge you if that's what you prefer.

PrettyLovely · 02/12/2018 18:47

I agree op makes me cringe.

Wasitnotme · 02/12/2018 18:53

I call my parents Mum and Dad have done since I was probably about 12. My children still call us both Daddy and either Mummy or Mama (We lived in Bavaria and older ones went to German Kindergarten and Mama was used by German children so it stuck. My girls are 17, 15 and 13. My middle child was asked by her friend why she calls us this she replied "because I want to and do you have a problem with this" her friend replied "no" and that was the end of that conversation.

Kemer2018 · 02/12/2018 18:54

Yes. What's worse is when partners refer to each other as mum and dad.....when their kids are sitting next to them ( all grown up).
Oh parents do it and it makes my teeth hurt.

llangennith · 02/12/2018 18:55

My DC still call me Mummy. I guess they just didn't ever get round to being embarrassed about it and changing to mum.
I called my parents Mummy and daddy till we went on a family holiday when I was 16 and 13yo sister was mortified and told me to call them mum and dad while we were 'in public'😂 By the end of the holiday I'd got used to saying mum and dad.

onthenaughtystepagain · 02/12/2018 18:55

Ridiculous to cringe. Its none of your business

Totally agree, some people must lead very empty lives if they are affected by what others call their parents!

justforareply · 02/12/2018 18:56

My DD1 still does it at 19. It makes me cringe. She doesn't like her first name e.g Susan, preferring Sue
I've told her she can call me mum or just, but if she insists on calling me mummy, I'll call her Susan.

jerrysbellyhangslikejelly · 02/12/2018 18:58

Completely disagree. Completely normal to call your parents mammy/mummy and daddy in Ireland even if they're in their 80's and you're about to celebrate your 60th birthday. Why would it make you cringe? And you're quite right, it is none of your business what other people call their parents.

NinjaGoSaysNo · 02/12/2018 18:59

I thought it was something posh people do.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 02/12/2018 19:01

Get a grip justforareply

Cheekyblinders · 02/12/2018 19:02

Yeah it may make you cringe but I am the wrong side of 45 and the thought of the expression my mother’s face if I called her Mum makes me more than cringe... it’s got nothing to do with you, she’s over 70 and that’s what she prefers and it’s her moniker after all. Get a grip OP

LivLemler · 02/12/2018 19:03

Where I'm from, people tend to switch to mum and dad at around 7. Where I live now, it's usual for adults to use mummy and daddy. It was strange to my ear at first but I got over it, because, well I'm an adult and can understand that people in different regions, and indeed families, do things differently. Hmm

Scissor · 02/12/2018 19:06

Absolutely none of your business. Shallow and empty life to be so judgemental.

AnnaMagnani · 02/12/2018 19:09

I still call my DM Mummy and she's in her late 70s and I'm in my 40s. My DF was my Daddy too.

I knew everyone around me was growing out of it when I was a child, so used to just say it at home but she is my Mummy. Eventually I thought I'd just be honest and use the word everywhere.

From watching patients and families, yes it is a class thing. Lots of people in my workplace would cringe and then I'd say 'Actually I do that too' or 'It's normal for their lifestyle' and the cringing would stop.

greenpop21 · 02/12/2018 19:09

My mum was Irish and I would call her mum once I was a teenager but refer to her as Mummy when talking about her to my siblings or dad. Same with my dad. My DC do the same with me. We were always acutely aware that we were different as living in England and would say mum if referring to her in front of friends. Working class upbringing.

maddiemookins16mum · 02/12/2018 19:10

The only adults I’ve known to do this were those who were
A) filthy rich
B) upper class
C) employed me as their Nanny

Butterflycookie · 02/12/2018 19:10

I still call mine mummy and daddy Blush. It doesn’t sound right to call them mum and dad. However, if I was referring to them in a coversation I would say mum or dad. Eg if I was talking to a friend, I’d say “my mum has that coat” rather than mummy.

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