Call Me Mommy

Updated on December 13, 2006
M.H. asks from Fort Campbell, KY
15 answers

My 2 yr old has hit this phase where she wants to call me and hubby by our first names. I keep trying to explain to her that she is not to do this but she does it anyway. And it doesnt help much that my step-son calls my hubby by his first name. Any suggestions??

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So What Happened?

Thank you everyone I tried a lil of everything but she just stopped one day....

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S.T.

answers from Nashville on

My daughter found it funny to call me bob. not mommy, not S. (she tried and couldn't pronounce it) so I became bob and was for 2 years, we made a game of it and eventually it died out.. wasn't fun anymore. Bob didn't exist, and mommy only answers to mommy.

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L.L.

answers from Nashville on

Don't respond at all when she calls you by your name. If she wants your attention she can call you Mommy (or Daddy for hubby). The more attention you pay to the fact that she is calling you by your name the more she will do it to push buttons. Just ignore it. As for your stepson, why is he being allowed to call his father by his first name? I would have to nip that in the butt. My husband has 4 stepchildren (his ex-wife's kids) and they are now between 25 & 32 and they all call him Daddy. It's a sign of respect as much as an endearment and a name for a parent. I would have a talk with your stepson (or have hubby do it) about respect for his parents.

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Z.L.

answers from Memphis on

It might be a phase. My son started calling me by my first name when he was about that age because everyone around us called me "Z.." I just kept reinforcing that myname was mama, not Z.. Try not to make a big deal out of it. Maybe ask your step-son to stop calling his father by his name for a while, at least in front of your daughter. If not, when your daughter calls you two by name, don't pay attention (unless she is hurt, etc.) until she calls you mommy or daddy. I hope this helps.

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A.S.

answers from Memphis on

Hi my name is A. S. I think it is ok for your child to call you by your name some times so they can learn your name.

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D.

answers from Nashville on

My daughter did the same thing. it's not disrespect; kids just think it's neat for them to know your name. Just don't respond unless she calls you Mommy. However, I responded when my daughter called me by name. Eventually she stopped on her own.

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B.

answers from Augusta on

I would correct her by saying "I'm sorry were you speaking to me my name is mommy not __________ what do you need?" and talk to your husband about it so he does the same thing with both your children.

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D.T.

answers from Atlanta on

HELLO M.,

MY SON DID THE SAME THING AND I THOUGHT HE WOULD NEVER STOP. THE MORE FUSS I MADE ABOUT IT, THE MORE HE DID IT. SO I LET HIM CONTINUE FOR AWHILE, THEN I WOULDN'T ANSWER HIM UNTIL HE SAID MOMMY. AFTER A ABOUT A WEEK HE STARTED BACK CALLING ME MOMMY. ITS A PHASE SOME KIDS GO THROUGH.

TAKE CARE, D.

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A.A.

answers from Chattanooga on

Hi M.~
I have an idea for you. It is called the "Yes, Mommy Game"

-Tell your child you are going to play the yes, mommy game. Remind them that when you call your child's name, they are to say "Yes, mommy, I'm coming!" And come right away and look at your eyes to receive instruction.
-Have your child go in a different room and wait for you to call them. Bis hugs &lots of praise when they come when you call.

-Do this for about 5-10 minutes, make it lots of fun.
-Tell them to listen throughout the day for you to test them and remember to do it. If they don't come when tested, play the yes, mommy game for a couple minutes as a reminder then test them again.

Let me know if it works. It has done wonders for me! :)

J.B.

answers from Memphis on

My pat answer to so many things is to read Dr. Raymond Moore's book - Home Built Discipline. It is so helpful in teaching parents how to lovingly, but firmly be in control.

Also...don't ever recognize, like give her what she is asking for (attention to hear her comment, or cookie, or anything) without the right title being said first. Don't ever. Learning to warmly, lovingly say "not until you say 'mommy'instead of M." and holding to it will eventually work. This is a test of the wills. Ü

J.

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S.C.

answers from Nashville on

My 3 year old started doing that a few months ago. When we made a big deal about it she would do it more. So we started to ignore it (when she says Liz insstead of mommy I just say yes baby instead of saying no it is mommy). Now she hardly ever does it because it doesn't get her the attention she was hoping for. Good luck!

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M.L.

answers from Johnson City on

My two boys 4 and 5 do that to me sometimes now just to see my reaction. I give thim a silly look and say you know my name.. they say yes its M., I say in a firm tone very good but I am your mother and you call me mom or mommy and that is what you will always call me.. The other mothers that responded to this gave great advice.. I totally agree with them. My kids also tried it when they were about your daughters age And I did what the other 2 mothers sugested for you to do,,,IT WORKS.... Good Luck...

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D.H.

answers from Atlanta on

Hi, try telling her, "Mommy's ears can't hear when you call me (first name)." This worked wonders for me, even for whinning or screaming or crying.
Best wishes!

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S.J.

answers from Knoxville on

Good Morning M.~

I have a seven year old daughter that at one point liked to call me by my given name, S.. I didn't like it much, so I didn't respond when she called me that. When she called me mom or mommy, I responded immediatly. And I praised her for remembering. Now, I am recently married...actually our one month anniversary is tomorrow. My daughter really didn't have a father figure in her life until my husband and calls him daddy. My husband has a nine year old son. I am not expecting his son to call me mom or mommy due to the fact that he has one at home and I am not going to try to confuse him. I am not trying to take the place of his mother. He is more than welcome to call me S. until he is ready to call me mom or mommy if that ever happens. I do not think that this is disrespectful. I just want him to learn to be comfortable in his timing. I hope that this makes sense. This is my story, and everyones is a little bit different. I really hope that this helps.
Good Luck and enjoy the love of your family!!!
S.

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S.E.

answers from Atlanta on

This is a phase. Your child is excited that he/she has figured out that you have more than one name!

I used to tell my little girl that there is only one person in the whole world who can call me Mommy. That is her! I really sold her on it that way. It worked because everytime she called me S. I just said "oh, gosh, anyone call call me that and the only person allowed to call me Mommy doesn't. etc., etc.,"

Good luck!

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T.B.

answers from New Orleans on

M.,
the way I was raised its disrespectful to call your parents by their first name, so I would ignore when she calls you by your first name and just correct her.. My 3 year old sometimes calls my husband Mike, becuase she hears everyone else call him that.. your baby just may be confused especially if you and the other child call him by his first name.. I wouldnt get mad at her just correct her in a positive manner.. also if his other child calls him by his first name then that's between his mother and your husband..who knows why he calls him by his first name, have you ever asked him??..he may not know its about respect, unless the mother is around and isnt speaking positive about your husband to him......in any event talk to your baby and when she calls your name correct her and say mommy do you need something from mommy........its always about correcting in a positive way so she understands your not getting mad at her and she dosent understand why....hopes this help keep us informed..

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