Husband Dragged for the 'Creepy' Way He Addresses Wife in Front of Kids

A woman has taken to the internet to speak about her husband giving her the creeps.

The mom-of-two explained her husband calls her "mummy" when the kids who are eight and nine are around but she doesn't like it.

Over 75 percent of 1,355 people have backed the wife who uses the handle Pop12 on the popular discussion site Mumsnet.

Newsweek reached out to a family therapist who said using this term "may create a weird boundary around the roles of the parents."

The user said: "My Husband calls me Mummy around the house while my kids are around, so, for example, he might shout "Mummy, do you know where darling son's socks are".

"If I have given the kids a snack he will say 'Mummy is there one for me!'

She points out she "didn't mind" when the children were really young but now she finds it a bit "creepy".

She asked other users if she is being unreasonable and asked if she was "overthinking" the situation.

Newsweek spoke to JustAnswer family therapist Jennifer Kelman, who said: "When kids are young, it is quite common for a partner or spouse to use a pet name around the kids, but if that pet name is also "Mummy" it might be time to lose it as they get older. Sure, it's cute that your husband is responding to you lovingly and partnering up with the kids and calling you Mummy, but that title has been earned and should not be watered down by anyone other than the kids calling you that.

"Using the term "Mummy" between you and your spouse may also create a weird boundary around the roles of the parents, where in this case, the husband is putting his wife in the role of the caretaker, not just for the kids, but for him as well. I am sure there are other nicknames or pet names that can exist between them instead of Mummy. The kids may also find it a bit uncomfortable as they get older and want their dad to call her by her name.

"It is not unreasonable to want him to stop, and it isn't about overthinking. Perhaps it is good that you are thinking so you can assess how you feel about it and go to him with your honest feelings about the issue. Since you have become uncomfortable with him calling you Mummy, I would sit and talk with him without the kids present and let him know that while you felt it was cute when the kids were young, it no longer feels that way and you would prefer that he call you by your name. Couples thrive when they keep communicating, so no need to damp down your feelings. Let him know what you want and need around this and let him make the change."

More than 180 people have commented on the post, with one user saying: "I draw the line at that. Don't mind my husband saying "ask mummy" etc directly in response to the kids' questions—but if he is addressing me he must use my name.

"Easy fix though. Let him know you want him to call you by your name only. And once you've told him this, don't respond to him if he addresses you as mummy. Just act like you haven't heard. He'll get the hang of it soon enough."

"Ick. Referring to you as Mummy is one thing, but actually calling you Mummy directly is weird," said another.

Another wrote: "My parents used to do that to each other but tongue in cheek. It made me want to vom then to be honest."

Newsweek was not able to verify the details of the case.