Grown people calling others "mommy".

EastCoastBride

A few years ago (and DH really doesn't know why or where this came from), the IL's started referring to themselves as "mommy" and "daddy" when talking to DH. 

It's just a little odd.  He's almost 40, hasn't called them that since he was a child, so.... not sure why they now call themselves that.

Anyhow, I'm talking to my stepmother last night.  She tells me that my brother (who just turned 40) has started referring to her as "mommy".

WTF?

She doesn't know what to do - if anything.  Just bite her tongue and hope it blows over?  I told her I'd tell DH and maybe, if my brother says it at THanksgiving, DH can find a funny way to call him out on it (my DH has a way of joking around where he can probably pull this off).

Because, really....  a grown man calling his mom "mommy" after calling her MOM for years? 

doglove

That is weird!

JsuperJ

My old neighbors used to refer to each other and "mommy" and "daddy". Whenever I would talk to them, she would call him "daddy" and he would call her "mommy". But she also married her husband five years after she was his student teacher. So, yeah...

crabbygrabass

Very odd!  I was just thinking this morning about how I can't stand when grown women call their fathers daddy.  I don't think I've ever heard a grown man call their mothers mommy.  

Interrobang

Definitely weird!! 

fussbucket

I don't think it's appropriate for adults to talk like three-year-olds unless they're actively talking TO a three-year-old. And ditto with grown women calling their fathers "daddy." As much as I try not to let it give me the creeps (like if I know the people involved or something), it always does.

EastCoastBride

JsuperJ:

But she also married her husband five years after she was his student teacher. So, yeah...

LOL!

Yeah, the "daddy" thing too.  I know people do it because they think it makes them seem extra close to their dad, but really... it's weird.

meowmaps

My 30+ year old BIL calls his parents "mommy" and "daddy".  My in-laws actually encourage it.  They even refer to themselves this way but my H will only call them "mom" and "dad".   

Captaintightpants

Every time I see this, I can't help but think of that movie the people under the stairs, where the crack pot people referred to each other as Mommy and Daddy the entire time. I don't find fault with women sometimes calling their dad "Daddy" but it's a little weird.

huber22

I think that if she isn't comfortable, she should say something. Light-heartedly, but still she should say something. Maybe laugh and say "Oh BIL, I love you very much, but I would prefer Mom."

pedantic_wench

I think it's weird to do it if your H has never called (or at least hasn't since childhood) them mommy or daddy.

But, in general? I don't care what people call their parents. I call my mom "Momma." And I don't give a fuuck if it bothers people or makes them feel weird.

She's my Momma and always will be, bottom line. I never remember calling my dad daddy, though. He's just dad. But if I always knew him as "Daddy" then that's what he'd be called. Or Pop, or Papa, or Daddio. lol

It's just a derivative and people shouldn't get so up in arms about it.

TarponMonoxide

We knew these people when I was a kid; the husband continually referred to his wife as Mommy, the same way old man Reagan used to refer to Nancy. YUK.

Mommy is reserved for a kiddo under 5. After that, you're a little too old to call your mother Mommy. 

gioia di vivere

SO's grown sister calls her parents "mommy" and "daddy" -- it feels incestual.

calle28

I think it's pretty weird too. I wonder why he's reverting back to calling her mommy after all these years??

EastCoastBride

calle28:

I think it's pretty weird too. I wonder why he's reverting back to calling her mommy after all these years??

This is whats got us about this.

OH, and he also told her last night that "she'll be happy" on Thanksgiving because his hair is now platinum blonde!

Oy.  This will be fun!!!

Libramom2b

gioia di vivere:

SO's grown sister calls her parents "mommy" and "daddy" -- it feels incestual.

It feels incestual to call your parents Mommy and Daddy? That makes no sense. Those using "mommy" and "daddy" as sexual terms with their partners are the weird ones. I call my Dad "Daddy" because that is what I've always called him. I guess when I hit puberty I was supposed to change what I called him to "Dad" to avoid making others uncomfortable.

pedantic_wench

gioia di vivere:

SO's grown sister calls her parents "mommy" and "daddy" -- it feels incestual.

calle28

What's going on with your brother? Platinum blonde hair, calling your stepmom "mommy"?

Any major life changes happen recently?

EastCoastBride

calle28:

Any major life changes happen recently?

He turned 40 last month.

doglove

EastCoastBride:

calle28:

Any major life changes happen recently?

He turned 40 last month.

Mid-life crisis perhaps? 

EastCoastBride

doglove:

EastCoastBride:

calle28:

Any major life changes happen recently?

He turned 40 last month.

Mid-life crisis perhaps? 

It may very well be.  He's never been married, no kids.  He did get engaged once, but she was psycho.  From stuff he's said over the years to our stepmother, he seems to think he needs to do X in his life in order to get their approval/love, and to a degree, sees me as competition.

It's a long story with him.  And he and I are not close at all. 

calle28

doglove:

EastCoastBride:

calle28:

Any major life changes happen recently?

He turned 40 last month.

Mid-life crisis perhaps? 

He might show up at dinner with a red sports car or motorcycle. Haha.

EastCoastBride

calle28:

or motorcycle. 

Oh, he's had the motorcycle for years.  And he used to own a used Jaguar.  And a SAAB.  Oh, and I think presently he has a Volvo.

Even though we once told him NOT to buy a Volvo.  We LOVED ours, but the maintenance on it was $$$$.  But he went and got one anyhow.

And this is not a man who has a lot of money.  He needs my parents to co-sign his rental apartment.  He's been "in school" for 20 years and just last year was still asking my parents to help out w/ his tuition.   Because he doesn't have a FT job and while he can make a good amount of money landscaping, he feels getting out of bed for less than $1000 is beneath him. 

Blah blah blah. 

Muddled

gioia di vivere:

SO's grown sister calls her parents "mommy" and "daddy" -- it feels incestual.

Why? Is that what you call your lovers? Mommy and Daddy?

JustDuckyDancer

I agree that the random "mommy" and "daddy" out of the blue after years of not calling them this is weird. However, my DH has always called his dad "daddy" as does his older sister. It's just what they've always called him. Just like they've both always called their mom "momma". *shrug* Doesn't bother me because it's not out of left field suddenly.

gaultry

Eeeeewwww.

BettyBookworm

Yeah that is odd.

I call my mother "mommy" but I've done that consistently throughout my life. I also call her "mama" & "mom". I think of mommy as a term of endearment when I am being mushy with her.

EastCoastBride

BettyBookworm:

I call my mother "mommy" but I've done that consistently throughout my life. I also call her "mama" & "mom". I think of mommy as a term of endearment when I am being mushy with her.

When I hear a grown adult call their parent mommy/daddy, it kind of makes me stop.  But all in all - if it's what you've always done, I really can't fault that.  No one I know does this, so that's why I think it gives me pause when I do hear it.

But yea, the ultimate point to this post is the sudden usage of the terms after years of NOT using it.  Both w/ my IL's and brother.  I just find it really, really weird. 

SueBear

Personally, I would not get involved.  I think it is very strange, but I have learned to keep my mouth shut about things like this!  If it bothers your stepmother, she should address it herself.

BettyBookworm

EastCoastBride:

BettyBookworm:

I call my mother "mommy" but I've done that consistently throughout my life. I also call her "mama" & "mom". I think of mommy as a term of endearment when I am being mushy with her.

When I hear a grown adult call their parent mommy/daddy, it kind of makes me stop.  But all in all - if it's what you've always done, I really can't fault that.  No one I know does this, so that's why I think it gives me pause when I do hear it.

But yea, the ultimate point to this post is the sudden usage of the terms after years of NOT using it.  Both w/ my IL's and brother.  I just find it really, really weird. 

Well, I don't use the term "mommy" to a third party! If I am talking to someone else about my mom I use more adult terms. However, if my mom & I are having a Kodak Moment I will call her Mommy. 

I agree with you that it is very odd for your IL's to have this change come about suddenly. 

SweetCuppinCakes

Any adult, man or woman, who refers to their parents as mommy/daddy make me want to vomit. I  judge that shiit hardcore. Probably because im pretty sure i never called my parents that even as a kid.