Mommy or mama? What do you want to be called and why?

[Anonymous]

I love being called "mama" and I've been wanted to be called mama since before DS was born. I'm in my late 30's now but when I was in my teens, I heard a little girl call her mother mama and I was hooked. I grew up in NY and it was really uncommon to hear a child call their mom "mama" - it is so much more common here and I am thrilled! DS calls me mama mostly but his daycare, and all his friends, call the moms "mommy." Now that he is 2.5 yo, I am definitely losing the battle but I will keep pushing the mama thing until he finally balks.

[Anonymous]

My kids have 2 moms. I am Mommy and DP is Mom. That is what they chose. I really didn't care - although I didn't want to be Mommy S (first initial) of be called my my first name.

[Anonymous]

I don't care either way. Whatever DD chooses works for me!!!

[Anonymous]

All my kids call me mama and I love it. Especially the 16 month old who is just now saying "ma-ma" clear as a bell. So cute! I have never been the biggest fan of "mommy" so I'm glad it never caught on with my kids. But what REALLY drives me crazy is when adults use mommy.

Funny story - I was at the pedi office last month with my baby and saw the new doctor that just joined the practice. Turns out he is about 6'5" and totally hot. He examines my DD, asks me a bunch of questions, the usual stuff and then asks "so, does mommy have any questions for me today?". Ugh, what a turn-off!

[Anonymous]

My 4.5 year old still calls me mama and I love it. I'm 39 and I still call my mother mommy; I never switched to mom. Sometimes it's a little embarassing, but it's too hard to switch now.

BTW, all of my cousins still refer to their mothers (my aunts) at mama, and they all live in the South. I think it's pretty common in the South.

[Anonymous]

I wanted mama... I think to avoid the negative associations I have with my own mother. I usually called her mom, but remember saying mommy when I was feeling vulnerable and wanted her to baby me. It didn't work, she was still cold and uninterested in me.

But my 21-month-old has recently made the switch all on her own to mommy. I have no idea where it came from. My husband still refers to me as mama when talking to the baby, so maybe she'll switch back. (I hate hearing people refer to themselves in the third person, so she won't hear any "mama loves you" or "bring it to mama" from me! )

[Anonymous]

I like "Mama," but I still call my own mother "Mama" so I'm sure that's why.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wanted mama... I think to avoid the negative associations I have with my own mother. I usually called her mom, but remember saying mommy when I was feeling vulnerable and wanted her to baby me. It didn't work, she was still cold and uninterested in me.

But my 21-month-old has recently made the switch all on her own to mommy. I have no idea where it came from. My husband still refers to me as mama when talking to the baby, so maybe she'll switch back. (I hate hearing people refer to themselves in the third person, so she won't hear any "mama loves you" or "bring it to mama" from me! )

I used to talk in third person to my child because they don't understand pronouns when they are young and I read it best to speak in third person (even though I'm with you, I sound like an idiot).

[Anonymous]

Mommy.

[Anonymous]

I don't have kids yet (expecting my first) and suppose whatever the baby wants to wind up calling me is okay by me but yes, Mama is really sweet and sounds so loving. I always called my mom "mother." (yes, that's a good indication of our relationship....d'oh). But in any case, I always thought the kids ran through a litany of names, particularly when in the supermarket and they need your attention:

mom. MOMMY. Mom. Mama. Ma. Mama. Mommy. MOM!" ha ha ha.

[Anonymous]

Mamá.

[Anonymous]

Mom works for me. I call my own mother Ma and have for as long as I can remember.

[Anonymous]

Interesting question. I always wanted "Mommy," because "Mama" has negative connotations, like Big Mama, and I just picture a very large, country, backward, mean woman. But I have to admit that was my perception of it in the 70s and 80s, growing up in the country, with large, backward, mean women around me. Seeing more people use Mama now is giving me a more positive image of it.

[Anonymous]

I insist on being called "Mother." Mom is too white and Mama is too black.

[Anonymous]

When DS was little, he called me "mommy", but eventually, of course, that gave way -- big boys don't call their mothers "mommy" -- so I became "mom". Can't recall when he made the switch, (he's 15 now). Interestngly, DD called me "mama" when she was little -- with no prompting on my part, though I loved it. We're not southerners, but I guess by virtue of her growing up here, she adapted. Once when a friend who grew up in Macon, Georgia, was visiting, DD piped up with, "Mama, don't wear those nasty shoes, " which our visiting friend certified as very authentically southern. Sadly, now that she's a tween, I've become "mom".