Too Old to Be Calling Hubby "Daddy"???

I'm 18 and I still call my dad daddy. Sometimes, if I want something ;), I'll call my mom mommy. I don't know know how my parents feel about me calling them mommy and daddy, but that's just what I'm used to. My best friend calls her parents mom and dad, and so does my boyfriend. I think it depends on how close a person is to their parents. For instance, someone who really isn't close to their parents wouldn't be saying mommy and daddy. They would be saying mom and dad or they would use their parents' first names. However, someone who is really close to their parents will probably keep calling them mommy and daddy.

Sounds like something my husband would come up with. Probably not this specifically, although you never know, but my husband gets weird ideas in his head sometimes about how things 'should be.'. I blame it on my super macho father-in-law.

jajajajaja...I am 40 and call my parents "mami" and "papi";even when we are arguing! I think, personallly, it is sweeter to call parents by mommy or daddy...specially coming from boys and I have two of those. My, almost 3, years old boy calls my husband: "papi" ( equivalent of daddy in Spanish) and he loves it.

My two children still call me mommy and my hubby daddy. My son is 7 and my daughter is 6.
I am almost 30 and have recently found out that my own dad has terminal cancer. He said to me that they only thing he regrets in his life is he did not hear me call him daddy enough. I now call him just to call him daddy and anytime he calls me I call him daddy. I will until I can't call him that anymore.
I feel lucky in a way because we know we don't have long with him and so we can make up for any lost time we might have.
Would your husband feel awful if he never heard the word daddy again?

A friend of mine who is in her sixties still calls her mom, mommy. But back to you. Out of nowhere around the age of 5 my son started to call me and my hubs mom and dad. I was crushed. I loved the sound of mommy somehow sounding sweeter to me. I asked him why the change he said the cool boys in class say mom and dad. There you have it. I've never heard of a parent requesting a change especially at such a young age, but men do not want their boys to be bullied, picked on and to stand up for themselves and maybe your hubs wants to instill that idea of confidence in your son when he is out in public by calling him dad and getting him to "act" a little more mature. God love 'em but men can be such odd balls.

I think it's weird that your husband thinks your son is too old to call him daddy. It should be your son who decides that. But- if your son is not upset about it, then I would let it go. But you husband needs to understand that being called daddy is a good thing and means his son feels close to him and safe with him- not that his son is being a baby. That's got nothing to do with it.

We were just talking about this today!!!

My 6 year old called me "mom" the other day and I looked at him as if he had 2 heads!!! I think he's "trying things out" although I still get "mommy" 99.9% of the time.

I don't think 4 is too old at all to be calling you guys mommy and daddy. You are right, its definitely a privilege and there will come a time when your son decides for himself that mommy and daddy are too baby-ish. I for one (with a 6 year old and 3 year old) am not ready!!

Good Luck!!

B. :)

My hubby doesn't care either way. Most days he's "Babe" to my almost three year old (because that is what I call him). But she has started calling us Mom and Dad instead of Momma, Mommy and Daddy. Not sure why but I just noticed that today!! Kind of sad!

I still call my mother Mama and called my father Daddy until he died (he was 81 and I was 34). Mom and Dad just never seemed to fit my parents. I do often refer to them as mom and dad when I am talking to someone else.

My son calls me Mom, Mommy and Mama and my husband Dad and Daddy. He is 3.5. I think he picked up Dad and Mom from my husband because that is what my husband calls his parents and he sometimes refers to me as Mom when talking to my son. I was a little sad the first time I heard him call me that. While I don't think there is a specific age to make a change to mom and dad, I always associated it with becoming a teenager.

On a side note, my grandmother wanted my mother and her sister to call her Mother from a very early age (they mostly did although sometimes used Mama) and we always called her Grandmother. I always thought it was a little strange. My definitely loved her children and grandchildren but was not a warm and fuzzy person so Mother fit her.

I'm in the same boat as you VS! Our 7yr old has been calling me mom a lot more than mommy lately. I guess that she's just growing up. Although, on the other hand I'm almost 30 and still call my mother mommy! :) But, back to the question, you're right, it doesn't last forever and the hubs should enjoy it while he can. Soon enough he'll be grown and on his way out of the house! My hubby doesn't mind if he's called dad or daddy, as long as we still get called that "title" we'll be happy, before long they will be trying to call us by our first names!! LOL I remember getting mad at my mother and calling her "Mother!" And I know how she must have felt because the other day I was busy balancing the checkbook and my daughter was calling me "Mommy!" and I didn't answer right away, so she yelled Mom! I said "hold on one moment, I'll be right there". 5 minutes passed and I hear "Mother!!" Aww, broke my heart! LOL Good times! Good luck and tell the hubby to relax and enjoy the love and special bond he has with his son!

My husband loves it when our kids call him Daddy. He calls himself Daddy. I think kids should decide when they want to abbreviate the name.

I never did. My mother has always been 'Momma' and my dad was always 'Daddy', and I'm 23 years old.

My husband is 31 and still calls his mom and dad, Mommy and Daddy on occassion....Usually as an inside joke they have but still. I think it should be up to the kids to continue calling you mommy and daddy or not.

Ha! My husband is 35 and STILL calls his parents "Mommy and Daddy" as do his siblings. I think it's super weird, but he says that's what they like, so he's doing it for them. It's a good thing I didn't find that out till we'd been together for awhile. I still struggle when hearing it from him. I thought he was kidding at first when I heard him say it! Whatever your husband is comfortable with should be used. I'll do the same when it comes to it with my son. If hubby wants to be "Daddy" for the rest of his life, and my son is willing to call him that, so be it!

I think it is OK as long as "Dad" and "Son" feel at ease with the change. I know many people who are grown and still call the mother "Mommy" especially people from the east coast. I always thought it was kind of sweet.

However my receptionist who is well in to her 50's and sort of irritating refers to her deceased step-father as "daddy this and daddy that" and it sounds kind of dumb and phony coming from her, so I think the terms we use to call our family memebers should be on a case by case basis.

I hope your little boy calls you "Mommy" for as long as your both like.

Blessings.....

My husband didn't request this at all, but on his own, my 4 year old son just started calling us Mom and Dad. My 3 yr old dd still calls us mommy and daddy. it doesn't bug us either way though. When our son is hurt or super tired mommy and daddy reappear but usually it is "hey mom... hey dad". He also did this with his Pappy. He know calls his Pap ?? Not sure why, but again like I said.. no biggie to us.

I must be wierd! I am super uncomfortable with adults who call their parents mommy and daddy. it makes me cringe and look at them "different".
I don't know if it's a macho thing, so much as what another woman said, that boys (girls too, maybe just not as much) learn pretty quickly what is "cool" and what is not. Your husband obviously wants him not to be picked on at school by using "baby" language. Mommy and daddy, to me (and probably other people as well) sounds babyish. Sorry (I am cringing, cuz I know a LOT of people probably don't agree!)
I think it's great though that your husband snuggles and has out of the blue "I love you's!"
L.

Perhaps that's how it happened in your husband's family so he doesn't want his son to appear babyish. But in my world, a little 4 year old is an itty bitty kid and should enjoy saying daddy. I actually started calling my parents mom and dad when I felt they weren't as loveable as they used to be. I never told my kids what to call me or when course I probably referred to myself as "Mommy." My grown daughter sometimes calls me Mama and it sounds endearing to me. Discuss with your husband where that starts from to get an understanding. My son said he was kind of hurt when I stopped holding hands with him at the mall when he was around 7 or so. Don't rush this time. Four is a cute, little kid time. They are barely past toddlerhood

My son is 11, still calls him Daddy from time to time. I love it.

My husband tells me he hopes our daughter will always call him "daddy" and I'm 21 and I still call my father "daddy". Maybe it is because it is his SON and he feels that saying "daddy" isn't very manly - Maybe if your child was a girl he wouldn't mind daddy because it's a girl thing? lol

my kids are 6 and 4 and still call us Mama and Daddy. My husband's sisters (twins) are 13 and still call their dad Daddy LOL it's just a matter of preference. I personally hated it when my mom informed me when I was about 10 that I was too old to call her Mommy and I should only call her Mom. It made me very uncomfortable. I think it's pushing for kids to grow up too soon. Plus, Mommy and Daddy are more affectionate names in my opinion. Mom and Dad is what grown-ups call their parents, or what teenagers say in front of their friends to seem grown up. My 6 yr old has already started saying "that's my Mom" when I go visit her class at school and although I won't say anything to her about it, it makes me sad to think of her growing up that quickly.

Um, well my kids are 3.5 almost 4, and my daughter is 7... and they still call my Husband "Daddy" or "Papa." And they call me "Mommy."
I don't see what the big deal is, with your Husband.
My Husband doesn't even think twice about our kids calling him "Daddy."
Its not a big deal... he thinks its cute and nice. Because they are kids... and they still have a kids heart.

But... it is great that they snuggle and say I love you, to each other.
That is good for a boy.
Boys.... NEED to learn how to have 'feelings' and how to express their feelings. And at least your Husband is 'loving' with your son... that is important for a boy's development. Or any child.

all the best,
Susan

Sorry I didn't read the other comments, but my guess is your husband is already thinking about his boy being around other kids and doesn't want anything to slip out that might be viewed as "babyish" by the other kids. My husband worried about the shows my son watched because he didn't want him to go to school and talk about Elmo or any other character that the other kids thought was babyish. I think your husband has jumped the gun a little bit, but no big deal. My oldest is 8 and I really had never thought about it until reading your post, but he dropped Mommy and Daddy completely on his own at some point and I didn't even notice.

Good luck,
K.

It's just a word, so it's not a big deal. The big deal is the cuddling and playing together and it sounds like he's doing great with that.

I don't feel the same way as your hubby, neither does my hubby. Our kids are welcome to call us Papi and Mami for as long as they choose. As long as they're not calling us by our first names, I guess we're OK. :)

I still call my dad "daddy" and I will until he can no longer hear me. I love him wiht all the tenderness and devotion of the little girl I used to be when he chased me around the park and carried me while I slept. He can't see well or walk anymore, he does not resemble the man I remember but I am humbled by the love he has for me and all he has taught me by example. If my calling him "daddy" is in any small way an indication of the love I have for him then I will do so even if others think it is silly. And people have commented on it, but I don't care one bit. He's my daddy and I dread the day I will no longer all his name.

I think its just yours. We are called Mama and Daddy. My kids are 6 and 10 and still call him Daddy. I call him Daddy a lot of times too.

I think it's a macho thing. Men are just weird creatures sometimes. I personally don't think it's too old. I can see a man maybe telling a 10 year old that it's too old, but not a 4-5 year old. If you witness how much they love each other, then I wouldn't really worry about it. My hubby has his odd little quirks too. ;)

I don't think your son is too old at all! As long as your son isn't embarrassed by it, then he's not too old!

Heck, I'm 32 and still call my dad daddy sometimes!

K.
http://oc.citymommy.com - where local moms connect!

Let your husband read this reply. My 21 year old daughter calls her dad daddy, it's NOT BABYISH it is term of indearment. My 26 year old son when he calls me on the phone he says hey mama, and he is training to be a UFC fighter. It's not about about mancho, it's about a relationship. Jen finds it weird, ovbious her husband comes from a close nit family that she may not understand. Another mom say;s she cringes, you should see my husbands face when our 21 year old daughter call's him daddy, some of you out there don't know what you are missing. J.

Our son is 11. My husband's happy with 'Daddy'. In writing (on cards) it's Daddy. When talking about him to friends my son calls him 'My Dad'. As long as it's respectful and we don't call him late for dinner, he's pretty happy with whatever we call him.

My 7yr old daughter calls us "Mommy and Daddy". My 9yr old daughter calls us "Momma and Dadda". And my 12yr old son calls us by our first names (he's been doing that since he was 6yrs old, that's another issue, I won't get into it here). At some point, I assume the Mommy and Daddy will be shortened to Mom and Dad (I know that I used to call MY parents "Mommy and Daddy" when I was younger, I distinctly remember that, but since they're now "Mom and Dad" it obviously changed sometime during my childhood). I don't remember my parents ever asking me to call them anything different, it just happened. And IMO it's completely appropriate for a 4yr old to call you "Mommy and Daddy". That's still pretty young...he'll probably change it on his own once he sees his peers calling their parents "mom and dad".

I don't think your husband should tell your son to call him Dad. He'll do it on his own when he is ready. Our oldest child is 6 and she still calls us Mommy and Daddy. She asked me recently when she is allowed to call me Mom. I said you can call me Mom whenever you want. She still says Mommy. From time to time our 3.5 year old son will call me Mom. You don't want your son to feel forced to call his Daddy something that doesn't come natural to him yet.

He should cherish every moment. My husband doesn't know who his biological father is and he would do anything in this world to have someone to call Daddy.

well, I turned 36 this year and I STILL call my dad daddy and about half the time I call my mom mommy or momma, so I think it is all about what you are comfortable with. I Know my SO of 11 years ridicules me for it, but his oldest is nearly 10 and his youngest just turned 3 and he would be heart broke if either of them stopped calling him Daddy now.

With my husband, it's because he wants his son to be macho not because of his own machismo. I have a little girl and a little boy. My husband refers to himself as Daddy when dealing with her and calls her daddys baby. He refers to himself as Dad when dealing with my boy and calls him son or dads big boy. They interact totally differantly. Much more stoic and like one of the guys with my little boy. He wants my son to be tough and calling him daddy sounds, for lack of a better word, weak to him.

that is so cute! and silly, and so "man". lol. my son is 3 1/2 and i have not heard this thought from my husband. he's the same way, kisses and hugs, "i love you's", he's very hands-on and affectionate. i wonder if this is on the horizon!

for what it's worth i am positive he would feel differently if this was your daughter you were talking about ;)

and *sigh*, my 3 1/2 year old little angel called me "mom" the other day...but it was, "yes, MOM"...lol! i don't know where he got that but i hope it stops! i think he picked it up from the neighbor kid...lol.

I agree with you, but even if your husband is the only husband in the world who feels this way, it's harmless. Obviously your son is fine with it. Your husband snuggles with his son and says I love you. That's all that's necessary.

(However, my husband started calling his dad by his first name in his early 20's, because he thought they were supposed to relate to each other as adults. I thought that was ridiculous and told him as much, and he reverted back to calling him Dad.)

I found your husband's request funny. I am 40 years old and still call my parents Mommy and Daddy.

I have a 15 yr old daughter. She has always called us Mom and Dad. I suppose she got it that way because my husband calls me mom and I call him dad. We still call each other mom and dad. I catch myself doing it when we are out on date night and we get some odd looks.LOL

On another note, my mom DEMANDED to be called "Mother". I was scolded for calling her Mom or Mommy. I recall from very early on if I said mom or mommy, she came to me and squeezed my cheeks together, got in my face and said "Mother, I am your MO-THER" Needless to say, I have little to no respect for her still.

to some men it might be a macho thing...lol..it may be also since you have a son your hubby feels its time to be called dad...i think its a guy things though...
my daughter is 6 and my husband has never said anything about her calling him daddy still.but she changes sometimes its dad sometimes its daddy..same with me sometimes its mom sometimes its mommy.

My son isn't old enough to talk yet (just 7 weeks), but I still call my parents Mommy and Daddy, but I've never heard my big brother call them that. It may just be a boy thing. :)

Now while I don't see anything wrong w/ a boy that young continuing to call him Daddy I think shortly you would find him doing that (transitioning to 'Dad') on his own. I think my son was that age when he transitioned from mommy/daddy to Mom & Dad w/ out prompting. I can see your husband having a problem if he continued past the age of 6 or so, but 5 is pretty young still. And for what it's worth I firmly believe that girls should be urged to do the same around the age of 6. I really can't stand adult women continuing to call their fathers "Daddy". Calling him that as a child sure, as an adult please... I think it just sounds ridiculous coming out of an adult's mouth.