Calling little girls "mama"?

[Anonymous]

It's a term of endearment in Spanish to call a small child "mama"/"mami/mamita" or "papa/papi/papito". I don't know if all Latino cultures do it, but those from the Hispanic Caribbean definitely do. I see a lot of people posting that it's common in black communities, as well, which I think may be a NY/northeast thing---there are a lot of Latinos (particularly Puerto Ricans/Caribbeans) in the northeast, so maybe it was born out of the amalgamation of the Latino and black-American cultures and it just took off from there. If you listen to music dating back decades, you hear both black and white people using "mama" and "daddy" as terms of endearment---but for adults. I called my daughter "mama" from birth, almost exclusively, so my son (who is 16 months older than her) thought her actual name was mama for the longest time! He was calling us BOTH mama at one point. LOL. Eventually, he figured out it was just a nickname and we hardly call her mama anymore. What I find interesting, and the reason I even came across this post, is that I've heard women calling BOYS "mama". Not Latinos, though---presumably white Americans and/or Europeans. I still have yet to figure THAT one out!

[Anonymous]

I don't like the sound or usage of for one's daughter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't like the sound or usage of for one's daughter.

... I meant, of "this" for one's daughter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's normal in black or Latino communities to call children mama, mami, pop, or papi. I personally call my dd mama pretty much every day. It's only odd if you're not familiar with different cultures I guess.

This is more socioeconomic than race/ethnic. You rarely hear children called mama/papa among my middle to upper income hispanic and black friends (and I'm hispanic). i have, however, heard it among family members in lower socioeconomic classes.

Wrong, I'm black, middle-income and know many others who are the same. Many use "mama" or "lil mama" when addressing our daughters.

[Anonymous]

I'm South-Asian, but I think it's the weirdest thing when people refer to their kids as "mama" or "mami." And weirder still, when people refer to someone as "mami" or "papi" when they're not your actual mother or father. It creeps me out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't like the sound or usage of for one's daughter.

Then don't use it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm South-Asian, but I think it's the weirdest thing when people refer to their kids as "mama" or "mami." And weirder still, when people refer to someone as "mami" or "papi" when they're not your actual mother or father. It creeps me out.

Some folks are really uptight and don't know how to be "familiar" with their family. I think the "Mother/Father" set of folks are sad.

[Anonymous]

Well, lately I've started calling both DD's "bubba". I have no idea why. It just came out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm South-Asian, but I think it's the weirdest thing when people refer to their kids as "mama" or "mami." And weirder still, when people refer to someone as "mami" or "papi" when they're not your actual mother or father. It creeps me out.

We don't care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm South-Asian, but I think it's the weirdest thing when people refer to their kids as "mama" or "mami." And weirder still, when people refer to someone as "mami" or "papi" when they're not your actual mother or father. It creeps me out.

Some folks are really uptight and don't know how to be "familiar" with their family. I think the "Mother/Father" set of folks are sad.

True, some people have no idea how to be "familiar" with their family without using misplaced pronouns. Still not as weird/creepy as the people who kiss their kids on the lips, however.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm South-Asian, but I think it's the weirdest thing when people refer to their kids as "mama" or "mami." And weirder still, when people refer to someone as "mami" or "papi" when they're not your actual mother or father. It creeps me out.

Some folks are really uptight and don't know how to be "familiar" with their family. I think the "Mother/Father" set of folks are sad.

True, some people have no idea how to be "familiar" with their family without using misplaced pronouns. Still not as weird/creepy as the people who kiss their kids on the lips, however.

You're just revealing how cold and distant you/your family are. I feel sad for you. Make sure you put aside money for therapy for your kids.

[Anonymous]

My daughters daycare provider calls her mama. I do sometimes, it just slips out.

[Anonymous]

I referred to my son as "Baba" and my daughter as "Mama" without giving it a single thought. It's an endearment.

They call me "Mommy."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I call my toddler "Lady" sometimes, as in "Come over here Lady." I have no idea why, it's just stream of consciousness."

+1. I have been trying to stop because at the grocery store/public I have noticed some strange looks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm South-Asian, but I think it's the weirdest thing when people refer to their kids as "mama" or "mami." And weirder still, when people refer to someone as "mami" or "papi" when they're not your actual mother or father. It creeps me out.

Some folks are really uptight and don't know how to be "familiar" with their family. I think the "Mother/Father" set of folks are sad.

True, some people have no idea how to be "familiar" with their family without using misplaced pronouns. Still not as weird/creepy as the people who kiss their kids on the lips, however.

You're just revealing how cold and distant you/your family are. I feel sad for you. Make sure you put aside money for therapy for your kids.

If you think the only way to be close with your family is to kiss your children on the lips and use misplaced pronouns/nicknames, then I feel very sorry for your narrow scope of family closeness.