Mama vs Mommy

[laohaire]

It seems to be the culture of MDC to prefer the name Mama to the more common (or so I thought) in the USA Mommy. Is there any reason for this?

[2goingon2]

My kids made the ma-ma-ma sound first so it became logical for me to refer to myself as "mama" instead of mommy. To me, it has a softer, sweeter sound than mommy. I can hear mommy being said in a whiney tone for some reason.

[Teenytoona]

Same as the PP mommy has a distinctively different sound to it than momma. I prefer the -ah sounding ending. But additionally, I just kind of like the thought of an adult child calling their mother "momma" IDK, just a thing for me.

As far as MDC as a community, IDK. I wonder about that too. I think Momma/Mama is kind of a way we greet each other, kind of in place of "woman" or "gal." How many threads start out something like, "Hey Mommas..." But not sure as to why momma instead of mommy for the community.

[onlyzombiecat]

I don't prefer mama from my child. She called me Mommy and then switched to Mum or Mummy.

I think mama sounds better than mommy if you are referring to another adult on a message board.

[Alyantavid]

I do prefer mama, but I don't really know why.

My kids rotate through mom, mama, and mommy.

[katiesk]

i much prefer mama. mommy sounds whiny to me.

[rootzdawta]

Dunno . .. ds can make "mama" sound pretty darn whiny. LoL. I think "mama" sounds a little more earthy/nurturing than mommy to the ear. That's probably why it's used on MDC. I generally address other moms I'm close to as "Mama" . . . I see it as a term of endearment. DS calls me mom, ma, mommy, mama . . . I guess whatever feels good at the time. I don't really have a preference.

[MeepyCat]

I prefer Mama, but the daycare ladies call all mothers "mommy", and now DS does too. *sigh* But when my kid jumps up and ecstatically yells "Mommy!", the truth is, he could call me anything and I'd still like it.

I def prefer "Mama" as a way to refer to other mothers on a message board. For some reason, "mommy" doesn't sit with me at all right for that.

[CheapPearls]

I prefer Mama. It sounds so southern and homey.

When my oldest was 4 he picked up calling me mom/mommy for a few weeks, I ended up telling him that I rather him call me mama instead. He calls me mom from time to time but the three of them pretty much call me mama.

[~ Wonderful Life ~]

Did I copy your post or did you copy mine?!

[kirstenb]

DS started out calling me Mama, and now he switches between Mama and Mommy. Sometimes I'll get a Mom. I don't really care either way. If he's going to whine, whatever he calls me is going to sound whiney.

I prefer Mama for a place like MDC- it sounds weird to me to call other mamas "Mommy".

[Maela]

I really don't care. I mostly call myself Mama, but I've called myself Mom and Mommy too. Dd calls me all three names, but mostly Mama.

[laohaire]

Originally Posted by ~ Wonderful Life ~

Did I copy your post or did you copy mine?!

Oops, your timestamp shows your thread first. I swear, I didn't see it!!!!!!

[phrogger]

I don't really care for Mama. I do however have kids who call me just about everything. Mom, mommy, MOTHER (if they are mad) and my oldest started calling me lady. He said I ignore mom so easily now he had to come up with something else. HA.

[guest9921]

Like other PPs, I think mommy sounds whiney.
I also dislike Daddy. (The boys use 'Papa')

I think they just sound infantile and cutesy. [Mommy & Daddy that is.]

[CarrieMF]

I've always been Mum, the odd time Mother. My kids have never referred to me as Mommy, most likely because I never referred to myself as it.

It's the same with their Dad. It has always been Dad, never Daddy

[meemee]

there is a sweetness to the way my dd calls me mama which does not carry over with mommy.

with the way she says it, mama is much more affectionate.

however i enjoy all of it. coz it gives me an idea where she is coming from.

for instance

MOM is used when seh is frustrated and wants me to pay attention. like hello is anyone listening attitude. if i dont respond to mom it changes to MOTHER and the whole body stance.

mommy is more indirect. more whiny. it isnt so much about me but more about what seh wants from me. or what she needs from me. where i am a tool. make me a sandwich. help me with homework. kwim.

but mama - oh that is so sweet. melt in the mouth sweetness. its pure affection. its where she wants me. where she wants me to be silly, where she wants me to show her love.

ETA: its the same with 'daddy'. she calls him dada affectionally. daddy as in formal talking.

[Just Elsa]

Mama is an organic sound kids make early on. Mommy requires learning to say and feels less genuine to me.

[Apple Girl]

I prefer to be called Mommy by DS.

Someone at preschool has been referring to the parents at "Mom" and "Dad", because recently he's been coming home calling me Mom.

ETA - I've never really thought about this... DS1 historically *always* called me Mommy. He had a speech delay, so by the time he was starting to talk, I guess "Mommy" was what he decided I would be... and I was so thrilled he was talking, I just became Mommy.

DS2 on the other hand, is a much earlier talker... he's been calling me "Mama" and his favorite food "Mama milk" since he was about 8 months old... I wonder if I will morph into Mommy with him, or stay Mama?

I guess I like both, but I think "Mom" is something older kids say, so I'm not really ready for my boys to call me that yet.

[riverscout]

My daughter started out calling me Mama because that's all she could say. Isn't this true for most kids? Anyway, at 3.5 she now seems to mostly call me Mommy and that's okay with me I guess, but she sounds more grown up because of it which is kind of weird for me. I think I might flip out when she starts calling me Mom.

As far as MDC is concerned, I think Mama is used as sort of a term of endearment for other mothers. I think it would be odd to call anyones else Mom or Mommy, but Mama is okay.

Later mamas!