What do you make of it when adults refer to their mom or dad as just “Mom” or “Dad”

[Anonymous]

I think it’s kind of cute. Especially if it’s a man. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nothing that's just their name

Maybe this is the difference. I don’t do this because in my mind it’s not their name. Or maybe a better way of saying it is it’s only their name to me, never to other people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you're speaking about your parents, you would say, "Dad came for over yesterday." I don't get Op's post. Why would I need to say "my" Dad. Of course it's my Dad. Why would I be talking about someone else's Dad? and use the word "Dad."

Because it's not the Dad of the person you're speaking to so it means something different to them. They have a different person known to them as Dad, so normal people put "my" in front of it to make it clear. When you ask them about their dad do you say "How's dad doing?" or do you say "How is your dad?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing that's just their name

Maybe this is the difference. I don’t do this because in my mind it’s not their name. Or maybe a better way of saying it is it’s only their name to me, never to other people.

THIS IS IT EXACTLY! It’s not their name. It’s what the speaker calls them because they are the person’s child.

My whole family calls my aunt, whose real name is Susan, “Bitty,” because her siblings nicknamed her that when they were little. As in she’s itty bitty. It’s cute! And I only and forever think of her as Bitty. But if I’m talking about her to someone else, I would refer to her as “my aunt.” Because she’s not Bitty to them.

[Anonymous]

It's not worth your heart health. Be like Elsa and let it go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not worth your heart health. Be like Elsa and let it go.

Truly. I find this thread so fascinating. I only refer to "mom" and "dad" without possessives to my siblings, but I really didn't know this was a topic people felt so passionately about. That people that about at all, really. Weird!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Don’t be dumb. It’s about the listeners relationship with the parent. Which one leaves you unsure of who we are talking about.

No, it isn't.
If you are chatting with a friend, and she says: 'Mom has really been into gardening lately', you would actually think she's talking about your mom?

Exactly. It is not difficult to figure out immediately that she is referring to her mom.

[Anonymous]

“Mom” and “Dad” are more like pet names than actual names. I might call my husband “Ootsy Bootsy” when we’re at home together, but I don’t say to my friends, “Ootsy Bootsy is really into gardening lately,” I say, “My husband is really into gardening lately.”

It’s exactly the same with “Mom” and “Dad.” You don’t refer to people by their pet names alone when you’re with non-family members.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Instead of saying “my mom” or “my dad” when they are talking to non-related other adults? I have two friends who do this, and I find it very peculiar. They are women in their 40s and 50s, and then they talk about their dads to me or in a group of friends, they just refer to him as “Dad.” Like, “Dad was late to pick up the kids from school so Steve had to scramble to go get them because I was in a meeting.” Or “Dad fell again and is in the hospital.”

I don't make anything of it. It is their mom/dad so what else should they call them?

[Anonymous]

Very, very strange. And I think they're very mature.

The old "well southerners" NOPE. NOT ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Instead of saying “my mom” or “my dad” when they are talking to non-related other adults? I have two friends who do this, and I find it very peculiar. They are women in their 40s and 50s, and then they talk about their dads to me or in a group of friends, they just refer to him as “Dad.” Like, “Dad was late to pick up the kids from school so Steve had to scramble to go get them because I was in a meeting.” Or “Dad fell again and is in the hospital.”

I don't make anything of it. It is their mom/dad so what else should they call them?

Exactly. It’s obvious she should refer to them as “my mom” or “my dad” since she is referring to her own mom and dad. It is odd to refer to “Mom” and “Dad” as though those are their actual given names.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s offensive and suggests a self centeredness and disrespect to others

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s offensive and suggests a self centeredness and disrespect to others

That’s nuts.

[Anonymous]

They have a different person known to them as Dad

And they can't figure it out?
I trust they are smart enough to figure it out

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

They have a different person known to them as Dad

And they can't figure it out?
I trust they are smart enough to figure it out

If they have to figure it out then the speaker is a moron who can’t communicate well. It’s ok if you’re 3 but not otherwise. It’s baby talk.