# R. Reagan's "Mommy". **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 23, 2006, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-reagans-mommy/381582 "2006-11-23T21:20:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2006, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-reagans-mommy/381582/21 "2006-11-24T13:40:04Z")
I’m with **squeegee**. As new parents, it’s such a neat thing to refer to each other as ‘mommy’ and ‘daddy’, when we’re talking about the baby. It makes us realize our lives have changed and how much more we love each other because of it. Before that, I always thought Regan calling his wife ‘mommy’ was very weird. Now? It makes me realize that John and I have to stop doing that before our daughter goes to college. Preferably sooner. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2006, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-reagans-mommy/381582/22 "2006-11-24T16:43:22Z")
Even the more staid “Mother” may leave you open to posthumous ridicule. William Jennings Bryan called his wife “Mother”. The author of the semi-fictionalized hatchet job _Inherit the Wind_ picked up on this and depicted Bryan as infantilized by his wife, and relating to her like a child to a mother. In fact his wife was an invalid, he was the caregiver in the relationship, and he merely used “Mother” as a title of respect. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2006, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-reagans-mommy/381582/23 "2006-11-24T17:10:15Z")
I only thought it was creepy when he’d squeak it out after taking a hit off his nitrous bottle. Oh wait, wrong actor. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2006, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-reagans-mommy/381582/24 "2006-11-24T17:26:49Z")
My mom-in-law calls her husband “Daddy,” and I’ve always found it exceedingly weird. And creepy. I don’t recall him calling her anything other than her given name. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2006, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-reagans-mommy/381582/25 "2006-11-24T17:49:04Z")
[QUOTE=ratatoskK] I think it’s weird, and not just because I think he’s an idiot. I really do think it’s bizarre. [/QUOTE] You’re familiar with [Spitting Image](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spitting_Image), non? 'Cause it would be right up your alley.Reagan: [Having just passionately kissed Margaret Thatcher] Nice gal. Shame I’m only screwing her country! I’m not going to link to it 'cause they’re almost certainly a violation of copyright, but YouTube has a bunch of _Spitting Image_ videos. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2006, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-reagans-mommy/381582/26 "2006-11-24T19:04:05Z")
Seriously creepy. If anyone does this they need to seriously stop because people will definitely talk about you. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2006, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-reagans-mommy/381582/27 "2006-11-24T19:20:47Z")
Clark Gable and Carole Lombard used to call each other “Maw” and “Paw,” and Kay Kendall called all of her friends and lovers “wifey.” ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2006, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-reagans-mommy/381582/28 "2006-11-24T20:40:11Z")
I don’t have children. One thing I am very careful not to do is tell someone else’s child “Go ask Mommy.” That is just creepy. I make sure I say “Go ask your mother.” ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2006, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-reagans-mommy/381582/29 "2006-11-24T21:05:54Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas] I don’t have children. One thing I am very careful not to do is tell someone else’s child “Go ask Mommy.” That is just creepy. I make sure I say “Go ask your mother.” [/QUOTE] Doesn’t work with your own kids: “Go ask your mother” is just too stiff and cold; “Go ask Mum” is much warmer and more inclusive: “your mother” sounds as if she has no connection with me. “Mum” and “Dad” are just titles designating our roles in our family. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2006, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-reagans-mommy/381582/30 "2006-11-26T02:01:11Z")
My grandfather called my grandmother “Mother.” When my parents got married, my mother apparently got up in my father’s face and told him that she was _not_ his mother and that if he even dreamed of calling her that, she’d kill him. So he settled for Angel. ---
**Author:** ![Lola\_Granola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Lola\_Granola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lola_Granola)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2006, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-reagans-mommy/381582/31 "2006-11-26T18:10:37Z")
I gotta agree with the whole “creeps me out” vibe. I have a Mommy and Daddy, and in no way do I want that imaged mixed up with the guy I sleep with. Ewwww. And kids? Ask your mother/ father is fine. My spouse isn’t MY father, so I’m sure as hell not going to refer to him as such. I once had to spend a weekend with a young (30’s) couple that called each other “Mother/ Father” And all with cute little baby voices! “Oooo… Does Mommy want a drinkie?” “Ohhh Daddy! I wuv you!” Gag. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2006, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-reagans-mommy/381582/32 "2006-11-27T00:16:38Z")
Well, I guess I’m creepy, at least until my kids are older. My husband and I refer to each other by the same names the kids use for us, when they’re around. So it’s “Daddy, did you stop by the vet?” rather than “EJ, did you stop by the vet?” if the kids are with us. Not always, but usually. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-reagans-mommy/381582.md?page=1)