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?

This. It's funny.

I am significantly more disturbed that you would refer to a vagina as 'sexual interiors'...

@pbopkg why are you mortified? Its a silly joke, you may not find it funny but it is just a silly joke. No one else will give a shit.

Also if you think this is mortifying, you're in a for a rough ride as small children often like to announce all sorts of things to strangers, and will do so frequently - more if you make a big fuss about it!

A small child belonging to friends of mine went through a hilarious (to me, not so much to them) of LEAPING through doorways (at home, school, shops etc) announcing THE FART MONSTER!!!! and hitting a squat and letting out a fart either from his backside or his mouth depending on what he had brewing at the time.

He only stopped it when he accidentally followed through in the middle of Asda and realised the error of his ways.

I have news for you. 4 year-olds do often say highly inappropriate and embarrassing things, and it could be a heck of a lot worse than 'housekeeping'.

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

If she’s saying it to announce herself before bursting into a consultation room when someone is mid-smear, I can see your point. Otherwise I don’t think it’s a major problem.

What’s mortifying is your poor wife being stuck on holiday with a humourless bore.

Do you like your wife or do you find her annoying in general

I thought you were going to say she was stealing stuff and getting the kid to do it too. You’ve obviously never been really embarrassed

Another man here giving out about his wife!!!

The real test of time is to take her to the Sistine Chapel and see what she does. Hold off on the divorce papers for now.

Like everyone else I dont get why this is in any way embarrassing, it's the kind of thing that lots of people might say when knocking on a door. No way is your child going to be doing it for the rest of her live in public loos 😂

Understand where you're coming from. That sort of thing gets teeth grindingly irritating after a very short while.... The novelty will wear off soon enough though.

You have no idea what mortifying is. Once in a doctor's waiting room my friend with her 4yo, an old man goes in coughing his guts up, 4yo walks right up to him and says "you're gonna die mister". Same girl, different visit spots a lady with a hunch back, blurts out "Mummy, that lady is pregnant on her back".

So forgive me but "housekeeping" is just cute. You're wife is cute too, appreciate her.

It’s still very odd imo.

Your anxiety is out of control.

You are actually catastrophising here.

You come across as extremely sincere and earnest and not really aware that none of the behaviour you are finding mortifying is at all problematic. The lack of perspective wrt your wife and daughter's funny habit as well as your lack of perspective as to how strange your own reaction is are both indications that you might need some support.

I assume from your posts that you've had several conversations with your wife about this. I'm going to hazard a guess that she is finding your anxiety really hard to deal with.

I really think you should see your doctor about your anxiety/ embarassment problem.

Do you not make jokes ever?

Me and my husband do it with the standard Mexican voice (we're Hispanic before anyone starts) 😂

From the child - not the end of the world

From your wife - not funny

This. The wife sounds odd, but the child, being only 4, will not cause anyone to be upset. It’s not fair on DD if your wife continues with this sort of thing though.🤷‍♀️🙄

Is this real

As embarrassing things that children say go, this is pretty mild. Just ignore it and she'll forget about it eventually. If she's getting a reaction from you, she'll continue. I do think you must be a bit uptight if this bothers you a lot - I don't think anyone else would care or even notice. Little children say lots of funny and weird stuff, don't take it so seriously!

We were in a very fancy hotel in Italy, a glam older lady (looked very old money, dressed to the nines, dripping in diamonds) came out of the cubicle in the restroom and my son looked her square in the eyes and asked “Did you do a wee or a poo?”

Thats embarrassing. “Housekeeping” is kind of cute.

It’s just a bit of a lame joke. If she suddenly stated shouting “Aubergine” at random junctures, THAT would be very odd. This is just a bit daft.

I'm with you!
would drive me nuts! 😬

I think if a four year old did it I'd find it sweet and assume she'd picked it up from a hotel housekeeper. Your wife sounds a bit irritating.

Your wife doing it in a hotel is weird, if she is doing it loudly /in front of people/all the time.
Your 4yo child doing it is just normal. Its a phase that will soon wear off. Nothing to be embarrased about with a 4yo.