Mama vs Mommy - Page 2

[Cinder]

My 5 year old son calls me mama, my 6 year old daughter uses both mama and mommy...but as a baby/toddler, she called me Jillian and DH Ryan almost exclusively...

Anyway, we go with whatever they want to call us...

[daytripper75]

I prefer mommy to mama and cannot tolerate mom. I'm mother or mommy usually.

[heather+mike2005]

I have to admit I prefer Mama, too. Mommy does sound whiny. But still, I'd rather be called Mommy anyday over Mother.

[JamesMama]

I prefer to be called Mama. My and DH's family insist on "Go give this to your Mommy." and quite honestly it makes my ears bleed. Thankfully James KNOWS that I want to be called Mama...Mommy grates on my nerves (coming from MY kids, other kids can call their mothers Mommy and thats fine, but I don't like it from MY kids).

[Sasharna]

Mama sounds younger and more energetic to me. I wouldn't mind being "mum" someday... but never, ever "mom". Like others pointed out, "mommy" sounds a bit unnatural, but I don't mind when DS says it.

I wish I'd called my mother something other than "mom" because it doesn't seem to fit her either. She's way cooler than a mom, and not so soft as a mommy.

I call my partner "dada" to the kids. Sometimes I switch to "daddy". But, again, "dad" just sounds old to me. He's 24! So not a dad.

[josybear]

i'm mama. my older son and i have joking arguments where he calls me 'mommy' just to get a rise out of me then i tickle him until he admits that i'm mama...it's just a game, he knows that i prefer mama.

[zinemama]

Originally Posted by ixia

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

I feel the same way. I called my parents Mommy and Daddy but I never liked those terms and always cringed at the idea of being "mommy." To me "Mommy" is that annoying thing strange doctors call me in front of my children.

Early on in my pregnancy I told dh that we were going to be mama and papa. From his bemused look I could tell that what his kids would call him had never crossed his mind, nor did he care at all. Thank goodness.

[ShadowMoon]

I don't have a preference at all. I also wouldn't care if he grew up calling me by my first name. Right now I'm "mamany." (mama-knee) lol!

[KristyDi]

I grew up calling my mom mama. (strangely now that I think about it when I refer to her while talking to someone else she's "mom" but when speaking to her I use "mama.")

I prefer mama or mom to mommy (though DD dosen't really talk yet so she uses none of the above yet)

I call my dad daddy. Same deal with using "dad" to refer to him in conversation with others, but addressing him as "daddy." But here (deep south) it's normal for grown women to use "daddy" till their dying day.

[Honey693]

I prefer mommy, am ok with mama, eh about mom, and hate mummy.

[Steady Mom]

My kids all call me Mommy, but it's true that if I'm talking with another Mom, I usually refer to her as Mama.

Never really thought about the reasons, though!

[major_mama11]

Originally Posted by katiesk

i much prefer mama. mommy sounds whiny to me.

Exactly.

[beanma]

Originally Posted by KristyDi

I grew up calling my mom mama. (strangely now that I think about it when I refer to her while talking to someone else she's "mom" but when speaking to her I use "mama.")

I prefer mama or mom to mommy (though DD dosen't really talk yet so she uses none of the above yet)

I call my dad daddy. Same deal with using "dad" to refer to him in conversation with others, but addressing him as "daddy." But here (deep south) it's normal for grown women to use "daddy" till their dying day.

:

I call my 83 yr old mother "Mama" and it just seems natural to me. My kids do sometimes call me "Mommy", too, but seem to prefer "Mama" more these days. They went through a "Mommy" phase, but almost always call me "Mama" now. They call DH "Dada" and I don't think he's overly fond of that, but he doesn't correct them.

[Rico'sAlice]

I'm a "mama" largely b/c it sounds better w/ PaPa which is what my (German) DH goes by. I always called my mother "mommy" and later "mom."

[LiamnEmma]

My kids use Mom primarily, with Mama and Mommy falling in that order behind Mom. I use Mama because my dh uses that as a Spanish speaker.

[AVeryGoodYear]

Originally Posted by onlyzombiecat

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

This.

I'm 26 and still call my mom "Mommy" tho :P

DH & I refer to me as "mama" to our little girl.

[choli]

I cannot abide Mama. Mom, Mommy and Mother are all fine with me.

[babymommy2]

To me MaMa is what you say when just learning to talk until you can say Mommy. Ma Ma is baby talk to my ears, I can not imagine my 5 year old saying that to me! Perhaps these are regional differences? I do not know any child who says mama except 1 and 2 year olds learning to talk. I assume my child will graduate to Mom, once he is in elementary. The way we say it, is more like mum or Mummy, again maybe regional differences. As far as whineyness, I think all words can be said in a whiney tone, if you really want to whine.

[riverscout]

Originally Posted by choli

I cannot abide Mama. Mom, Mommy and Mother are all fine with me.

Can Mother actually be used in a nice way? I'm thinking exasperated teenage girl saying "Uh, Motheeeer...."

[Just Elsa]

Originally Posted by babymommy2

To me MaMa is what you say when just learning to talk until you can say Mommy. Ma Ma is baby talk to my ears, I can not imagine my 5 year old saying that to me! Perhaps these are regional differences? I do not know any child who says mama except 1 and 2 year olds learning to talk. I assume my child will graduate to Mom, once he is in elementary. The way we say it, is more like mum or Mummy, again maybe regional differences. As far as whineyness, I think all words can be said in a whiney tone, if you really want to whine.

Total opposite here. Mommy would be infantile in our area. I suspect you're right about the regional being at least part of it.