[Yash]

I need some help. My son, Jory, will be 16 months on the 25th. He has started calling me "Ash." It's odd because whenever someone is talking to him they refer to me as mommy or mom. He can say mommy, but he has never called me that.

I've been calling myself mommy more trying to reinforce it. I sign when we are signing. What am I not thinking of that I can do?

If I ask him to bring something to mommy, he does. And when other people say give this to mommy or where is mommy, he comes to me. So he knows I'm mommy.

This morning he was calling for me. And I said, I'm mommy, not Yash. When I got to his room. I repeated, I'm mommy. And he countered back, Ash. I repeated mommy again and he nodded his head and said Ash again.

Any suggestions?

[alwaysus]

My son ( bio-now16) went through that, he called me nana ( my name is Lana) I think it was because thats what he heard all of the adults in my life calling me.
I just kept reinforcing that I was " Mommy" I would even pretend not to hear him and then say " OOOPS were you talking to mommy?' I kinda made a game of it. I took it personally for awile, but realized it was because he heard Lana more often than mommy.

[kakuehl]

My daughter's 2 year old (bio) has started calling her Sharon (or a version threre-of); Daddy remains daddy which she finds frustrating! This too shall pass! I can remember when my kids were in first grade and came home calling me "Mrs. Maurer" (the teacher's name). When I taught early elementary school, kids (not my own) sometimes called me Mommy. Juest keep remindng him that he calls you Mom!
kathy

[ddhuab]

I have even heard of children calling their mom's "Sweetie" or some other endearment, becasause that is how daddy refers to mommy.

I think you are doing the right thing and he will get it.

D.

[Yash]

Thanks guys. I will continue to put mommy in every sentence I can when talking with him.

Yash

[DebCsMom]

I agree, that it's a phase. Our children are 6, 3 1/2 & 2 1/2 & they do that as well. Even our older 2 who are 18 & 16 did it when they were small. My DH & I always call each of Mommy & Daddy for just that reason. I wouldn't fret over it.

Deb

[ajrl]

hahaha this post makes me laugh.. please believe me I am not laughing at you just remembering my bio daughter at 1-2 years old. Her dad's name is Lazaro, everytime I needed him or called him I called him Laz. At about 1 year old for a little while everytime she wanted him she would call him Laz. I think that she kept doing it because at first we all would laugh.. Here comes a 1 year old that's talking and she looks at him and says.. Laz can you come here or Laz pick me up. After a while of us cracking up... I had to start also saying Daddy all the time. So yes it's normal. Dont fret keep working on it an laugh inside each time and say it's something to tell him when he's 12 and acting bratty.. lol


Andria

[Yash]

Andria and Deb,

Thanks for the posts. It's nice to know it's a phrase. It was just very shocking. I'm glad to know this too shall pass.

Thanks again.

[Scout67]

It's just a phase my dd now 2 will still do it sometimes, mainly to get a laugh. My mom actually taught my dd my first and last name. When you think about it, it's good for him to know your name (you full name if possible), because if he ever got separated from you (toddlers are fast) he would be able to tell someone your name.

[Yash]

This weekend, he did it. He said mommy while talking and looking at me. Go Jory! While he was sitting on the potty, he called out for me. "Yash. Yash. Yash." I ignored him, then he said, "Mommy. Mommy." And his mommy answered him back. We're making some headway.

Yash

[Brat]

I know I'm coming along late, but just wanted to say good for you! My friend's 2 yo daughter won't call her anything but her first name. It bothers her because she's never called her anything but her first name. She doesn't know what to do about it. She will call her grandmother Mommy before she'll call her Mommy.

Funny thing is, I was babysitting her the other day and she wouldn't call me anything but Mommy. She and my daughter (who's just a month younger) were actually have a bit of a competition: who could yell Mommy the loudest to get her needs met? My daughter was getting frustrated that this other person was calling me Mommy. I didn't know what to do but to keep saying, "YOUR mommy is coming soon" and stuff like that. But did she even know who that was? So I just gave up. I just couldn't tell my friend that her daughter was even calling me Mommy.

I think my daughter has called me by my first name two times. I remember ignoring her one time and then correcting dispassionately but firmly another. It's just not her bag so she doesn't do it. When I call my husband at the bottom of the stairs for dinner, I yell his name so he can hear me under his headphones. Every once in a while I'll ask her to call her daddy for dinner and she'll stand there yelling his first name and telling him it's time. Other than that, he's Daddy.

The other day she called him for dinner when it wasn't time, just to get him downstairs. I suppose I should have gotten on her case for lying, but it was just so darn funny.

[Yash]

Brat,

Your poor friend. When I first posted, most people told me it was a phase and it would pass. It did pass, but I never thought it would last as long as it did. He's getting much better at calling me mommy more than he calls me Yash, but if I'm slow to respond he'll start calling me by my first name.

[michellemartin]

My daughter went through calling me by my name as well. I thought it was kind of cute and I didn't attempt to stop her at all. It only lasted a couple months anyway even with me not correcting her. I think it's a phase as well. I've heard of lots of kids doing that. I think you're doing fine by reinforcing calling you mommy and that it will probably pass quickly.

[Yash]

Michelle,

It is slowly passing.

Thanks,

Yash