Yeah - people who say "mum" or "mummy" don't have it!
Addressing your mum/ mam/ mother
- Thread starter Merrion
- Start date
LDFerguson
Registered User
- Messages
- 4,695
Same here, although I suspect I was a bit older when I switched over to the more adult-sounding version.
Although the practice was the subject of fun above, Mrs. F. and I do refer to each other as Mammy and Daddy when in conversation with our kids. It was like that in our house when I was young and it reinforces the idea that I don't ever want my son or daughter to call me Liam. Though I've no doubt they'll call me far worse things as they get older.
I've always called my parents Ma and Da. Growing up in Ballyfermot it wouldn't have looked good in front of my peers if I called my mother, mammy/mum/mummy.
I agree mum/mummy sounds very English.
Refering to my wife in discussions with my children(all under 8) I would refer to her as mammy. They would refer to her as either mammy or mom.(Nickeloden channel!).
I wouldn't like them to call my wife Ma, but yet I continue to call my mother "Ma". I'm not sure why?
I agree mum/mummy sounds very English.
Refering to my wife in discussions with my children(all under 8) I would refer to her as mammy. They would refer to her as either mammy or mom.(Nickeloden channel!).
I wouldn't like them to call my wife Ma, but yet I continue to call my mother "Ma". I'm not sure why?
GeneralZod
Registered User
- Messages
- 1,198
Well can we agree that we should fight them on the beaches to keep out the adoption of "Mom"?
Too late-I know of friends who have used the term for years.
So don't bother climbing any trees.....
GeneralZod
Registered User
- Messages
- 1,198
Oh my god. Civilisation is breaking down. It's time to head into the bush.
I too am a West Dub...and we referred to ours as ma and da, or "The Ma" and "The Da", if we discussing them between ourselves or friends.
If the Ma was cheesed off with the da, he would be referred to as "the auld lad" or "that auld lad"
I went to a Funeral a couple of years back for a friend from work whose elderly father, a real old Dub, had passed away. At the mass a man stepped up and half sang/recited/mumbled in a gravelly voice, a song called "The Old Man". It was one of those moments where the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and I will never forget it. Turned out to be Finbar Furey who was a neighbour and very good friend of the da.
If the Ma was cheesed off with the da, he would be referred to as "the auld lad" or "that auld lad"
I went to a Funeral a couple of years back for a friend from work whose elderly father, a real old Dub, had passed away. At the mass a man stepped up and half sang/recited/mumbled in a gravelly voice, a song called "The Old Man". It was one of those moments where the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and I will never forget it. Turned out to be Finbar Furey who was a neighbour and very good friend of the da.
LDFerguson
Registered User
- Messages
- 4,695
When in conversation with kids I think its ok to refer to each other as Mam/Dad etc but I've heard people saying it to each other when out and about and there are no kids present. I find it skin crawling
To be clear, we only do it for the benefit of the kids when they are present.
(When they're not, I go back to "Boss", "Ma'am" or "M'lady" as usual.
)We were brought up in Crumlin in the 60's/70's, and it generally 'Mom' long before there was any American influence.
With our little one, she generally uses Mammy or Daddy, but she will use first names when she gets frustrated.
GeneralZod
Registered User
- Messages
- 1,198
I don't know what bog irish means to you,but irish speaking children would call their mother Mamai,so that is probably why Mam is in common usage today in ireland.
Interesting that the word for mother is similar across so many languages
mother,mathair,mere ,mutter,madre,momma,moeder
Mum and Dad. Ive never understood the "I dont like <insert-title>, its very south/north/west/american/<insert location>" argument as frequently (with the exception of the obligatory lapse in teenage years) the title of the parent is chosen by the parent themselves. I dont ever remember making a decision to call her mum, she taught me to call her mum, because she called her mum mum etc.
That said my other half calls his mum "mami" which is the swiss version of mam and is very common over here. To me though it obviously sounds like mammy - really weird to hear a grown man refer to his mum as mammy!
That said my other half calls his mum "mami" which is the swiss version of mam and is very common over here. To me though it obviously sounds like mammy - really weird to hear a grown man refer to his mum as mammy!
As a proud bog irish woman I m happy to say I called my mother mammy or when I fell and cut my knee it became MAAAAAAAAAMMY!
At about 12 I suddenly became incredibly sophisticated or so I thought and mammy was so passe so she became mom and so she has remained. It wasnt the american influence I think cos it was over 20 years ago.
My mother is now in her eighties and after two years or so of various health scares im just happy that she is still here in good health so that when I call her mom, mammy,her actual name or hey you shes able to answer!
At about 12 I suddenly became incredibly sophisticated or so I thought and mammy was so passe so she became mom and so she has remained. It wasnt the american influence I think cos it was over 20 years ago.
My mother is now in her eighties and after two years or so of various health scares im just happy that she is still here in good health so that when I call her mom, mammy,her actual name or hey you shes able to answer!