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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Sisters nicknames for DD

175 replies

Joolea · 20/12/2023 13:59

Sister has called DD “meatloaf” since she was a few months old. They have a very close relationship and DD absolutely adores her. Sister kindly does a lot of our childcare too (by choice, I’ve never asked her to).

Anyway I asked her to stop calling her meatloaf and the numerous variations of it (meat, meaty, bread loaf, dominoes, nut loaf etc etc) after a bit because it wasn’t exactly a compliment but DD was so upset that her auntie had stopped calling her “their” special names that it ended up carrying on.

Now DD started school in September and sister kindly picks her up for me 4 days a week. Last week a teacher took me aside at home time and asked if I was aware of the names my sister calls DD. I said I was and that I didn’t like it but DD gets upset when she stops. Teacher replied “ok, as long as you’re aware”. With a face on.

Now I feel awful like I’m allowing my DD to be called mean names but DD likes them!!

WIBU to put a stop to it knowing that DD will be upset?

ps. name change as very outing to anyone that knows us!

OP posts:
AnythingBUTnursing · 27/12/2023 17:11

I think it is special between them and should totally carry on. It is cute. I am sure your daughter will speak up if she no longer likes it. I cant see that happening though. I wouldn't care less what anyone thought. It is non if their business, teacher or not. It is nobodies business. Nor should you explain yourself to anyone about it. Enjoy the relationship they have, it is special.

MrsDilligaf · 27/12/2023 17:12

One of my friends calls her child Trev. Obviously they do have a proper name but it is nothing like Trev, but Trev has stuck.

saltinesandcoffeecups · 27/12/2023 17:17

I was traumatized * by the nickname Rosebud as a child and think I would have much preferred meatloaf… if your child likes it and sees it as a name of love from her aunt let it be and tell the teacher it’s fine.

  • Ok I wasn’t traumatized… I just really hated it.
Balloonhearts · 27/12/2023 17:22

God. Teacher needs to wind her neck in. I call my nephew and niece all sorts. Niece is Squish, Smoosh or Squidge. She was a particularly smooshy newborn with those round little cheeks that some babies have. She's 3 now and I still call her those.

Nephew is same age and still referred to as Heff ( short for heffalump) Spud or occasionally Doughnut. He was one of those babies with no hair for about a year and was quite chunky so looked like a cute misshapen potato for his first year of life. He's now a beautiful little boy with nothing in common with a potato but still likes his special names.

KingsleyBorder · 27/12/2023 17:23

educatingrati · 27/12/2023 16:25

Meatloaf is a cool nickname. But need to know how it came about!

It’s explained, look at OP’s posts. Aunt thought the child looked like the singer as a baby.

Findinganewme · 27/12/2023 23:24

Is your daughter called meatloaf because she’s chubby? If so, whilst it’s cute now, I can see why the teacher may have raised it to you. At the moment the connotations are probably not apparently, but could become an issue later?

Popcorn23 · 28/12/2023 01:38

I think the names sound really cute and both your sister and DD have a great sense of humour!

IWroteTheOther51 · 28/12/2023 09:36

My DD, now 16, is called Sasquatch, Gremlin, Monkey or Sausage Bottom.

DonnaBanana · 28/12/2023 09:38

The only reason I’d consider meatloaf offensive is because of the eponymously named dreadful singer from the 90s.

Sturnidae · 28/12/2023 09:38

That's quite amusing, I can see the teacher's concern, but if their interactions are visibly loving I wouldn't have mentioned it to a parent as it's clear it's affectionate!
My eldest is called Chubbly Wubbly by my Dad and occasionally by us, she was a proper chubby baby! I could see people thinking that was a big off, especially as she's a pretty standard size these days!

Sturnidae · 28/12/2023 09:41

My Nan is in her 70s/80s and is still called Gug by her sister, who couldn't pronounce Margaret as a toddler.

KingsleyBorder · 28/12/2023 09:50

I don’t see how “Meatloaf” as a nickname would automatically seem problematic anyway. It’s not a word that instantly equates with fat or ugly or anything like that in my mind. Few kids of that age will have any idea who Meatloaf the singer was and we don’t really eat meatloaf in this country, it’s a very American thing. It seems very odd that it was even mentioned, to be honest. As others have said, nobody would bat an eye at “Sausage”.

Person46 · 28/12/2023 14:58

My middle daughter has always called her older sister Barf as she couldn’t pronounce her real name. It’s stuck and we all call her Barf 😂

QuillBill · 28/12/2023 15:01

DonnaBanana · 28/12/2023 09:38

The only reason I’d consider meatloaf offensive is because of the eponymously named dreadful singer from the 90s.

Confused That's literally why she has the nickname.

mezlou84 · 28/12/2023 15:05

Meatloaf isnt bad I call my kids sausages lol. I call my sister frogface and she calls me miss piggy. I find calling people babe a bit strange cos that is literally a pig but who cares it's coming from a good place and the child isn't offended then it's good. If the child hated it and said so but aunt kept saying it then that's when it needs to be stopped. For example my grandma hated nanna because it's a dog's name and she isn't a dog, yet my best friends grandma insisted on being called nanna as grandma was old fashioned to her 😂. It's all on how the people involved perceive the names and react to them. I wouldn't worry at all over it and let them have their names for each other

paddlinglikecrazy · 28/12/2023 15:08

My 12 year old is Nanas ( short for bananas ) I call him his first name followed by nanas. My younger is dog.. his first name then dawg 😆
if your daughter likes the nicknames & is happy 🤷‍♀️ 😊

Bonbon249 · 28/12/2023 15:10

I have a friend who calls me sausage- I'm an adult and think it's hilarious and in return, I call her lollipop!

OneTC · 28/12/2023 15:13

I convinced my sister to name her youngest a certain name cos I already had an inappropriate nickname in mind 😅

Needsomesupport84 · 28/12/2023 15:18

Tell the teacher to get on with teaching rather than worrying about what nicknames your DD has at home fgs.

SmellyNelliey · 28/12/2023 15:22

I call my DD minstrel as she had big brown button eyes as a baby....(she's mixed race) and the looks and questions I get now from simple minded people it's ridiculous.
I'd keep the nick names going seems the have a lovely relationship.

TooDyed · 28/12/2023 15:31

My children are often called Frog Face and Stinky on a regular basis by a relative. None of us are bothered, and they love it

Noglitterallowed · 28/12/2023 15:34

Our daughter was called the pig by loads of people as a nickname. When she was a baby it would be hey how’s the pig? Now she’s obsessed with pigs and loves
if your daughter likes it what’s the issue

Bertielong3 · 28/12/2023 15:48

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Umidontknow · 28/12/2023 17:11

Teacher sounds like she has a rod up her bum to be honest. Not sure why any of the nicknames are offensive either really 🤷‍♀️ Nutloaf is sweet we call our daughter Piglet, Piglet pooh or Plop ...

inappropriateraspberry · 28/12/2023 17:51

I was called squidge and smells by my older sister! Never bothered me, it was never meant horribly. If it's not being used as an insult and your daughter doesn't mind, I really don't see the issue.