Wife did embarrassing thing in hotel, now DD is copying – WWYD?

[pbopkg]

Posting here because I genuinely don’t know how to handle this without causing WW3 with DW.

We were on a family weekend away a couple of weeks ago, staying in a nice(ish) hotel. DW has this (in my opinion) mortifying habit of calling out “Housekeeping!” in a sing-song voice before entering a room, including our own hotel room. No idea why, she thinks it’s hilarious.

Anyway, fast forward to this week and now DD (4) has started doing it CONSTANTLY. Every time she walks into a room at home, at PIL’s house, even at nursery drop-off! This morning she did it in M&S toilets when someone was actually in there, and I nearly died of embarrassment.

I gently mentioned to DW that maybe we should stop encouraging it, and she got all huffy, saying it’s just a bit of fun and I need to lighten up. But I can’t be the only one who thinks this is just Not A Thing normal people do??

AIBU to want this to stop before DD starts doing it at school? WWYD?

I think it's a bit of an odd thing to do and I personally don't find it all amusing. However, I also don't think it's that embarrassing. I'm not sure why you're so mortified!

I don’t think it is funny but it’s also not a big deal and not something I’d find embarrassing. It’s also not going to be inappropriate unless maybe you take her to a funeral home . Don’t take her to one of those until this phase has passed.

The way you named your post I thought it would be something like stealing towels or shovelling breakfast items into her bag for later?
It's just a cutesy thing your wife did for a laugh and your daughter now picked up on it. There's a chance she might find it funny that's it a bit annoying to you. She's only four!
If that's the worst thing that's happening to you as a family I suggest you breathe a sigh of relief and relax.

Alright, maybe “nearly died” was a bit dramatic! But standing in M&S toilets while your four-year-old cheerfully announces herself to a stranger is definitely not my idea of a good time.

Oh dear. Wait until she starts making personal remarks about people in public. You better carry a big stone to crawl under OP.

I agree it’s really cringe for the wife to do this. Why?! I also think if wife does this regularly then so will DD and it won’t be a passing phase ( until DD gets bullied for it).

I thought this was going to be much more interesting.

Lighten up, it's just a joke your partner does that DD has picked up on.

DD will get bored of it in 2 days, hardly something to get uptight about.

Me too!

How weird to be embarrassed OP

Lighten up

Maybe you should "nearly die" quietly and stop your whining.

But it's just fun, OP.

My son once asked me, in a loud voice (when he was four) "does daddy put his penis in your vagina" when we were on a bus.

That was a bit embarrassing...........

I mean, I don't think it's the most embarrassing thing in the world but it kind of depends whether it's a long term thing or not. OP, you mention your wife has a habit of doing this - has it been days, weeks or years? If it was an ongoing habit, I would definitely have to say something, but obviously if it was only a few times that would be different! (Same about mentioning it to your DD).

Why would it be particularly inappropriate at a doctor’s surgery or at school assembly? I used to be a hotel housekeeper, and I’d find it mildly amusing from a small child.

I mean, what are you going to be like when your wife tucks her dress into her knickers at a Buckingham Palace garden party? Or you discover you have your flies open and your comedy boxers poking forth at DD’s graduation?

Doctors surgery or a school assembly ? What would be the big deal?
Its not like shes swearing or anything

In the nicest way possible, You need to chill out

I thought you were going to say that your wife masturbated in public, OP.

You have funny ideas about what constitutes embarrassing.

Just worried she’s going to do it in some really inappropriate setting (imagine at a doctor’s surgery or a school assembly!)

Sorry, I'm lost.
What's inappropriate about either of your examples?

@pbopkg
If you are giving any thought to this at all (believing it would be inappropriate for a four year old to shout 'Housekeeping!' at a surgery or school assembly) and if you found the "Housekeeping!" thing in the M&S loos mortifying, you should seek therapy.

Is this really something occupying space in your brain? Do you honestly feel embarrassed by this sort of thing? You need to figure out what's wrong and practice ways to overcome the issue. CBT might help.

Seems harmless to me. I used to clean where I had to knock and say housekeeping so I’d find it cute from your dd. Life is serious enough so I’m all for a bit of lighthearted nonsense and your wife sounds fun.

I dont understand why it's embarrassing. Are you a bit of a snob? This just sounds like a funny quirk . I'm sure you have some too. Or maybe tad to uptight to have any

How did your four year old know about sexual interiors? That's disturbed me.

I’d say there’s a hundred more ways 4 years olds announce themselves to strangers in bathrooms and some of those actually are mortifying 😂

@Stillslowly I totally get where you’re coming from – it is a bit cringe, isn’t it? I honestly don’t understand why DW finds it so funny, especially when it’s such a weird thing to do in public. If DD keeps picking it up, I can’t see it being something she’ll just grow out of. I don’t want her to get teased for it when she’s older, so I’m really trying to nip it in the bud now. But DW isn’t having any of it!

We do this all the time at home, but over the years it's morphed into Arsekicking rather than Housekeeping. We find it hilarious 🤣😆🤣 it's been over a decade now. They could be at it a while.

I can answer that one, it’s usually a response to the question of how babies are made (when you don’t say stork).

You are vastly underestimating the appeal small children have for the majority of adults. I am trying really hard to think of a single situation in which a four-year old shouting out 'Housekeeping!' would fail to raise at least a wry small. An undertaker's?The middle of a wedding ceremony?