Anonymous
Post 05/01/2014 15:36     Subject: Why do American women call themselves "mums."
My MIL is from Illinois and whenever she asks about my mother she says. "How's your mum." It drives me nuts.
Anonymous
Post 05/01/2014 15:33     Subject: Re:Why do American women call themselves "mums."
I do it when I am joshing around with other Brits!
Anonymous
Post 05/01/2014 15:33     Subject: Re:Why do American women call themselves "mums."
Not as bad as a New Jersey native's out of office message saying she is on holiday.
Anonymous
Post 05/01/2014 15:30     Subject: Why do American women call themselves "mums."
Anonymous wrote:OP here. It's not something I lose sleep over. I'm curious. Deal. I had no idea that this is a common term in the Pittsburgh area.


Yep. For ex.: where is mum? I need to tell she that I am taking yinz down to the cellar. Definitely not an attempt at being cosmopolitan or trendy
Anonymous
Post 05/01/2014 15:23     Subject: Re:Why do American women call themselves "mums."
People from Maine use it too. I have a family full of "Mums" and "Mummas". Not so many "Mummies" though.

Anonymous
Post 05/01/2014 15:17     Subject: Why do American women call themselves "mums."
Anonymous wrote:It's better than "mama"


Really, my 4 year old still calls me this once in a while. I've never encouraged it one way or the other. I think it's sweet.
Anonymous
Post 05/01/2014 15:13     Subject: Why do American women call themselves "mums."
Anonymous wrote:It's better than "mama"


Ugh, I could not agree more. The worst. I have a friend who has two DDs who are 7 and 9. She has been cultivating the mama thing since they were babies.
Anonymous
Post 05/01/2014 15:10     Subject: Why do American women call themselves "mums."
Anonymous wrote:Okay, I confess. When I walk the dogs, I ask them - "are you gonna give your old mum a poop?" Which comes from having watched East Enders decades ago. But I swear no one is nearby when I say this and, frankly, it doesn't work on the dogs....ever.


This made me lol
Anonymous
Post 05/01/2014 15:05     Subject: Why do American women call themselves "mums."
Anonymous wrote:Okay, I confess. When I walk the dogs, I ask them - "are you gonna give your old mum a poop?" Which comes from having watched East Enders decades ago. But I swear no one is nearby when I say this and, frankly, it doesn't work on the dogs....ever.


Anonymous
Post 05/01/2014 15:03     Subject: Why do American women call themselves "mums."
Okay, I confess. When I walk the dogs, I ask them - "are you gonna give your old mum a poop?" Which comes from having watched East Enders decades ago. But I swear no one is nearby when I say this and, frankly, it doesn't work on the dogs....ever.
Anonymous
Post 05/01/2014 14:59     Subject: Why do American women call themselves "mums."
OP here. It's not something I lose sleep over. I'm curious. Deal. I had no idea that this is a common term in the Pittsburgh area.
Anonymous
Post 05/01/2014 14:57     Subject: Why do American women call themselves "mums."
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It is common in the Pittsburgh/western Pa area. Pittsburghese.


+1

My family is from central PA and my father, aunts and uncles call my grandmother 'mum.' Trust me, these people aren't trying to be trendy - it's just a regional thing.


+2
My mom's also from Pittsburgh and calls herself Mum. She's always done this and she's over 70 so she's not being trendy. Her Mom did it too. But really, aren't there more important things to worry about????
Anonymous
Post 05/01/2014 14:56     Subject: Re:Why do American women call themselves "mums."
I've been a mom for several decades and have only heard a British woman call herself a 'mum'.
Anonymous
Post 05/01/2014 14:56     Subject: Why do American women call themselves "mums."
Remember Princess Diana's coffin with the card on top that said "Mummy"? So weird.
Anonymous
Post 05/01/2014 14:55     Subject: Why do American women call themselves "mums."
Nope, we're moms. Mums are for Brits, Canadians, and Downunders, or the garden.