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Why do kids call their parents by their first name?

88 Answers
Last Updated: 11/30/2021 at 11:07pm
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Top Rated Answers
Cheyenne3939
March 27th, 2016 10:42pm
When I've seen this it's because there is a lack of connection or affection within the relationship.. Also to be blunt I think it is also a sign of disrespect.
Anonymous
April 5th, 2016 2:05pm
I have personally seen so many kids call their parents by their first name. It definitely isn't a sign of disrespect. Your deeds show your respect to your elders. Calling them mom or dad isn't necessarily a sign of respect, It's just something you've learnt to do, something that has been passed on to you. It would be totally unfair to point fingers at someone whose traditions and upbringing differ from yours.
Anonymous
January 31st, 2016 10:10pm
Because they don't feel close enough with them to address them by mom/dad. This is usually an attempt to distance oneself from parents, and not wanting to associate yourself with them as family.
friendlyVoice92
February 3rd, 2016 4:56am
Many reasons the positive ones is because they have a relationship based on friendship with their parents
Anonymous
February 5th, 2016 3:16am
Kids call their parents by their first name because they discovered that their real name isn't mommy or daddy and it became more interesting
gabbyyyy
April 13th, 2016 9:02am
I did this for a while with my parents, to be honest I think I did it because I didn't like them at that certain time. I didn't want to show them motherly or fatherly love for while.
Anonymous
January 23rd, 2016 9:31am
First, not all children do. Second, it's likely societal influence on children. In a more liberal country, children have the liberty to call their parents by their first name. However, in more conservative cultures, proper honourifics and respect must be given to their seniors. In this case, their parents. Cultures start off as habits— Habits that become commonplace and accepted as a norm, and as a norm, becomes a culture that is slowly passed down. Society can also have said impact on the individual's actions and line of cognitive process. Their beliefs, their habits are all ingrained as such.
EagleEyes
February 4th, 2016 5:24pm
Usually kids call their parents by their first names out of respect, or because they were raised in such a manner. But some children do it out of spite and like to use a sarcastic tone to antagonize their parents.
devilsOrchestra
January 20th, 2016 5:04pm
it could be the child has heard it from others and it's then up to the parents to correct their child and tell them "that's what grown ups call us but you must call us mummy/daddy".
Anonymous
May 2nd, 2016 10:50am
My parents, due to my sister's careless actions, were put in a situation where they were strongly recommended to foster my nephew and then a year later, adopt him. When he called them by their first name instead of "Omi" (grandmother) or "Grandpa" - It upset me. I felt like it was a sign of disrespect. My mother is a social worker- so luckily I had her and when we talked, it made sense why they didn't force him to call them a particular name. He needed to work out, in his own head, how to come to terms with the adoption and what it meant to him and who everybody was to him. Was I the aunt or the sister? My mother his mother or Omi? Was my dad his dad or grandpa? - It took months and a name change, but he ended up putting us all in different roles. He wanted me to stay his aunt/best friend. He wanted my mom to stay Omi and he wanted grandpa to be a mix of dad and grandpa because even when he was with my sister he never had a dad. This might not work for everyone, but it worked/works for our family. It's all new to us all and to force my nephew to stay in the restricted roles of being a "normal" child isn't going to work or strength the bond we have in our family.
Anonymous
January 20th, 2016 4:12am
I guess all households are different in their own way. Some parents may allow it, and others may not. It's probably to feel equal to one another.
Swifting
March 23rd, 2016 7:52am
Parents and children have a various different association with names. Some parents don't believe in the titles of mom and dad and would prefer to be called by their names. Other instances it is a case of step parents and wanting unity. Other times it could potentially be a child's need to assert power over the parents in anger or rage. Without knowing the specific reasons it's impossible to speculate on a real reason.
mountainPass10
January 28th, 2016 1:48am
I think it establishes a more friendly/equal relationship dynamic because by calling a parent by their first names their basically saying that they don't view them as some higher, rule-making entity, but they view them as someone they trust like a friend and feel open to share personal information with
DandyylionOfficial
January 22nd, 2016 8:47pm
Kids do so with their brothers and sisters, so they view their parents the same way! They know them!
theteayogi
January 17th, 2016 3:05am
I think a lot of kids do it to feel like adults themselves. They want to feel equal, and calling them by their first name puts them on a perceived same level.
Anonymous
April 3rd, 2016 5:19am
I personally did it because it's a mutual respect thing. We were on the same level. My parents weren't above me, we were equals.
maggierc
February 13th, 2016 6:37am
Kids sometimes call their parents by their first name because they have a more casual, friend-like relationship with their parents. In other words, their relationship with their parents is much less formal than others who call their parents by Mom and Dad, Mother and Father, etc.
KTIE
February 3rd, 2016 3:25am
Possibly to break the connection of them being their parents. Or maybe it is just something both the parents and children feel most comfortable with.
Crystalcxva
January 29th, 2016 12:44pm
Kids don't really call their parents by their first names, but if they do, it is very disrespectful. It's like calling the President by their first name, imagine saying "hey Obama wasssup", doesn't sound right does it? lol
Anonymous
February 25th, 2016 9:36am
From personal experience it us due to the feeling lost from them. This can be due to emotional breakdown or a mental illness has caused this. They are still very much with love but not with the same respect
AndyDufresne1994
May 5th, 2016 3:13am
I think that is a family by family thing and some families not need formality. Some do. We were never told what to call our parents. We figured it out. Clear rules we lived by and feared really. I would not assume a kid who calls their parent by their first name is a bad kid.... Every family is different.
calmBeauty57
March 30th, 2016 2:22pm
Because they want to distinguish them as adult peers as opposed to superior beings in their lives. It a be healthy and productive to encourage a relationship such as this.
LeahMargarita
May 11th, 2016 1:49am
Sometimes they are more comfortable with calling them by their first name. Especially to step parents or adoptive parents
Anonymous
March 26th, 2018 8:25pm
To personalise them. To feel more adult. Because its their name. Its very nice to be able to switch between the titel and the name of a parent makes for comfort, saftey and personal connection
Anonymous
March 17th, 2016 10:40pm
Maybe they're not as close to them as some other people or maybe as a sign of "respect" if their parents want to be called that.
niceSun56
June 5th, 2018 9:43pm
Different parenting styles work in different families. Some parents may be comfortable with this. As for you, stick with what you're comfortable with.
Anonymous
May 5th, 2016 2:06am
To show that they dont have to listen to their parents. Their parents may be scared of them so they dont do anything about it. Its rude and you should never call your parent by their first name.
LucyCat20
March 12th, 2016 6:29am
sometimes its often lack of respect depending on the age or it can just be a family sort of thing
shvrry
February 18th, 2016 6:35am
Some kids don't have full respect for their parents, in my opinion. Or, some kids must've been adopted and don't feel the need to call them "mom" or "dad".
Anonymous
February 13th, 2016 10:01am
Well for me I call my mom by her first name because she was my preschool teacher and all of the kids had to call her my her first name