A 10-year-old Cant Have a Mommy?!

[Dixie Luvr 98]

Something that happened to my DD at school has been bugging me. I usually do a good job of letting things roll off of my back, but this has been niggling at me. Maybe it will help to get it off my chest.

A teacher heard my daughter refer to me as her Mommy. The teacher then proceded to give her a lecture in front of the entire class. She told her that 10-year-olds don't have mommies and daddies, they have mothers and fathers. DD is to call me mother or mom, not mommy or mama. Teacher didn't even qualify it as in her classroom.

I guess you can tell DS-16 didn't have this teacher, because he still calls me Mommy or Mama sometimes when no friends are around, especially when he is sick or tired

Furthurmore my MIL is in her sixties and I have never heard her call her mother anything but Mommy, not when she was alive and not since she died.

 

[Michelle]

That's horrible! How DARE a teacher tell a child what she can call her parents, much LESS humiliate her in front of the class!

I am a huge supporter of teachers (in fact both my parents were teachers) but when I hear stories like this it makes my blood boil. I personally would talk to the teacher about this. Someone who could make such a statement obviously has other issues that must come across when she teaches.

 

[Beauty]

What gives her the right to tell your DD what to call you. Thats ridiculous. I have the greatest respect for teachers but that one point is simply none of her business. It would make me mad also! Again I'm outspoken so I would probably call and in as nice a way as possible let the teacher know that I didn't appreciate her telling my DD what to call me!

Heck I'm 31 and my mother has never been anything but mommy to me.

 

[SonjaB]

How DARE that woman or ANYONE tell your children what they may call you?????? I am a BIG supporter of teachers, but humiliating her and presuming to decide for both of you how to be addressed or referred to by your own daughter is WAAAAAAY out of line!

 

[zurgswife]

I would definately speak with the teacher/principal...That is unexcuseable...I teacher should never say those sort of things to a young child...

 

[Dan Murphy]

Time for a talk with the teacher, and the principal. Not right, at all!!

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

I can see a teacher suggesting that your child refer to you as "my mother" in conversations with others -- it's more proper and sounds more mature -- but she shouldn't be telling your child how to address you, nor should she humiliate your child for referring to you as "my mommy".

 

[TinkerPixie]

Totally out of line! It's none of the teachers concern what your daughter prefers to call her parents.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Who does she think she is? Personally, I would HATE to be called "mother".

 

[skuttle]

Definately out of line, IMO.

I'm 24 years old and my mother has always been "momma" and my father has always been "daddy". Sometimes I'll refer to them as mom and dad when I'm speaking to someone I don't know well, but other than that it's always momma and daddy.

 

[aahmom1]

I would have a little chat with the teacher if I were you. She doesn't have the right to tell your daughter what she can call you. She CERTAINLY doesn't have a right to embarrass your daughter in front of the whole class.

 

[Tiger Fan]

I can only imagine the lecture from this teacher, as Emily has a MOMMY AND A MOM!! I'd be there first thing in the morning to set that teacher straight!! Yes, I admire and respect teachers, Lynn is a teacher herself - but this is waaaaayyyyy beyond their call when they tell kids what they can and can't call their parents. Stepping off soapbox now.
Lisa

 

[Kirk]

My DD went thru a phase there where she called me Dad. Now she is back to calling me Daddy and I can tell she likes it more. I like it more - sounds more affectionate! Maybe you should think of a nickname for that teacher...like...How do you say, "Dropped on my head at birth" in Cherokee?

 

[wdwnutze]

That teacher is way out of line! I would be at the school to meet with the principal and the teacher ASAP. No one has a right to humiliate anyone, much less a child in front of their peers and what gives her the right to tell your child what to call you!

 

[snoopy]

I called my mother and father Mommy and Daddy (as did my brothers) until the day they died.

That teacher is very wrong for suggesting what your DD should call her parents.

 

[gina2000]

I've got news for you......we have a dear friend who has no parents and she calls OUR mother "mommy". She's a high powered business exec.

Don't ever let someone destroy your child's joy. Not that way.

 

[honeywolf7]

IMHO, it's none of that teacher's business what your daughter calls her parents.

 

[worm761]

waaaaaaay out of line. my DS calls me momma. called me mommy once but it just sounded weird.
talk to this teacher and the principal. tell the teacher that she has no right to TELL your daughter how to address you. speak to the principal about the public humiliation.

 

[disykat]

I am also a huge supporter of teachers (and the public schools!), but the teacher was stepping waaaay over her bounds. Frankly, I would be a bit concerned about having a teacher who felt it was her/his business to come on so strongly about something that wasn't hurting anyone and wasn't any of their business.

I would be having a private chat with them about why they felt it was their business and why they were "scolding" you and your child in front of everyone. If the chat was unsatisfactory, I'd talk with the principal.

When I first read your post, I thought the teacher said this all in front of you and your child. Now that I realize you weren't there, I'm editing to say to get the teacher's side too.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

In this day of so many mixed and non-traditional families, this teacher could get herself in a big mess. I am sure people have different names for step-parents, etc. And what about grandparents raising kids - nana, poppop, grandmom, grandmother, this list goes on and on.

She was getting involved somewhere she shouldn't have.