AIBU to think that is is completely normal to call your parents Mummy and Daddy as an adult.

[MillicentSmythFortescue]

I read a thread yesterday where someone mentioned people calling their parents 'Mummy and Daddy' in parenthood. A couple of people said they called their parents 'Mummy and Daddy too'. I associate this name with young children, when I was a child everyone converted to Mum and Dad around the age of 7. Trivial I know and none of my business but I was wondering how widespread it is?

AIBU - it is normal to call your parents Mummy and Daddy in adulthood in a non-ironic way.

[quote MillicentSmythFortescue]@ShirleyPhallus
I think Nanny is more common and I can say that as someone who has/had Nanny's and Nan's.
I'm from a working-class background and my brother married someone from an upper-middle-class background.
My parents are called Nanny and Grandad, her parents are Grandma and Grandpa, the latter sounding much posher somehow.[/quote]
The opposite in my family, my working class grandparents were Granny and grandad (he was a painter and decorator), my not at all working class grandparents were nannie and grandad (owned his own small business and they had an architect designed house and a swimming pool in the garden)

My sister and I still use mummy and daddy, that's what our parents prefer to be called and I don't know why we wouldn't use the names they prefer.

If talking about my parents to non family members I would always say Mum or Dad.

@WotWouldCJDo

What does aunt mean as opposed to auntie?

It's a reference to a children's book (which I can picture but can't name). It's 'auntie' when it's someone loving and you love back, and 'aunt' is a friendly relative. Can anyone help me with the book or quote?

What Katy Did, I think?

Something like “they called her Aunt Izzy always, never Auntie. Boys and girls will know what that meant” (quote may not be 100% accurate but it’s something like that)

Mumsnet is a strange place as I now know I’m posh and make many mumsnetters cringe (why do you even care?). I feel rather uncomfortable with the declarations that it’s ok when Irish people do it “with their lovely little accents” - think what you’re saying people!

My father (mid 80’s) has always referred to my mother (died 30+ years ago) as mummy when talking to me and I would never call him anything other then daddy when speaking to him. My children call him Grandad (other grandparents, now sadly dead, were grandpa and grandma respectively).

I’ve never had any conversation with my children as to what to call us so can only assume they like mummy & daddy. Ds (nearly 18) sometimes calls me madre and refers to us as the parentals when talking to others about us (love the poster who’s dc has them saved as parental1 & parental2 on phone).

We generally call our evening meal tea but sometimes call it supper (same meal, same kind of food). Never call any meal dinner.

Why do people even care what others do?

I'd find it really weird an adult referring to their mummy and daddy. In our families it goes mummy, mum, mother, I cant imagine hearing my DH call his 79yo mother mummy.

I can't think of anything less anyone else's business than how someone addresses their own mother!

Unless I was an anthropologist/doing a social study I can't imagine feeling it was my affair to even have an opinion about it.

I called my parents mummy and daddy well into my teens and was really embarrassed about it. That's what they referred to each other as when taking to me, they never suggested I change to mum and dad, and although I was embarrassed it felt weird to me to change what I called them. It would have been like having a friend called John, and 15 years into our friendship suddenly having to start calling him Jack.

How does auntie sound childish?? Aunt has always sounded weird to me

MY DP does (although not all the time in speech, but any cards are always written that way). He is in no way upper class, he's working class and very self-sufficient! I found it really odd initially but have gotten used to it after 20-odd years.

I am 46 and still call my parents Mummy and Daddy. But then again, you would put me in the posh category 🤣

My dad is dying right now. I'll call my daddy what i sodding well please.

In Ireland it’s completely normal

@DreadingSeason2020sFinale

My dad is dying right now. I'll call my daddy what i sodding well please.

@DreadingSeason2020sFinale I’m so sorry x

We live in NE England, where Mam and Dad is the norm. As I'm not from round here, I brought my children up to call me mummy - I honestly thought they'd drop the 'my' well before now (early teens) but they haven't!

If they're ever talking about me to their friends though, they refer to me as 'mum' so they do know their mates would take the piss if they knew they still called me mummy.

My DS on stopped saying mummy and daddy quite young as me and his dad used mum and dad.

I think it is less common for people to use mummy snd daddy into adulthood. It is more well off people who seem to do it though I do have middle/working class friends whose teens say mummy and daddy. I find it a bit odd but whatever.

It's very normal where I'm from. Not everyone does it but no one raises an eyebrow if anyone does.

@didye

YANBU I find this massively creepy

Best not visit Ireland then

I think it’s quite infantile to use ‘Mummy and Daddy’ as an adult. I don’t know anyone older than about eight who does, and would think it was was really odd to hear an adult use it towards their parents. Definitely not the norm where I am.

@didye I can understand people not liking it, but in what way is it 'massively creepy'?

@didye

YANBU I find this massively creepy

How do all the people saying it’s horrible, creepy etc feel knowing that in some cultures it’s normal?

I find that attitude racist.

Judging from the responses on here it clearly is a regional thing. I live in an area of South Yorkshire where the villages were originally pit villages. Calling your parents mummy and daddy after primary school age is very definitely considered posh or pretentious round here. And no-one eats supper (apart from my very posh neighbours )

I knew one woman in her sixties who called her parents mummy and daddy. Her dad used to work in the steel works and her mum was a seamstress. They sent their daughter to elocution lessons, and she had the benfit of a better education than her parents had. She moved to London and moved in completely different circles to her parents - art galleries, theatre, Glyndebourne etc. It was sad because she became so ashamed of her roots.

Creepy’s a new one. How so?

DreadingSeason2020 hugs to you

I still call my parents mummy/daddy and sometimes mum/dad. Not posh, very middle class just the family way.