Nicknames?

Question

My 9 year-old stepson wants to come up with something to refer to me as other than my first name, which I think is a sweet gesture. However, when asked what he had in mind, his only response was "you know, something like mom... or something like that". Difficult situation, but "mom" isn't the right word for us, unfortunately. Any suggestions? Do you have stepkids? What do they call you?

I never really noticed until recently, but hearing him say my first name does feel very formal and doesn't represent our relationship well at all. Any thoughts?

Answer 1

My stepson never called me anything other than "WS" (dubya Ess) which was short for 'wicked stepmother', sometimes it was a term of endearment, sometimes it was a true indicator of our relationship.

HOWEVER...I knew a situation similar to yours---the stepmom became "MOMS" (as in "momz") The "S" at the end was for "step", and "moms" (or Dads) was different from Mom or Dad. Simple, silly, but it worked for that family quite well.
The children started with Mom S, some called her Mommess, and then it ended up as momz.

Answer 2

This is a difficult one -- because you obviosuly are very concerned about not stepping on anyone's toes by having him call you "Mom."

My husband is a stepdad to my daughter, and it never felt right to have her call him anything other than his first name, since he is not her father and her father wouldn't like that very much. However, now that I think of it, she rarely calls him by his first name.

Honestly, I think that the best thing to do is not worry about it. In time, you will either come up with something clever, or he'll continue to call you by your first name. It sounds like you have a great relationship, and that is what is most important here.

Answer 3

I have two-step children, I have been with their dad and my husband for 8 years, they call me mom and they have a step-dad that they call dad. All four of us get along and consider the children to be the most important. I should also say that I have a daughter and she calls him dad. The only steps in our house are the ones that come in the HOUSE!
I also have a step-dad and I call him dad, and the other guy is my father, because that was all he did for me-was father me, he was never a dad.

Answer 4

Maybe he could come up with something clever to go with your name. For example: My step mothers name was Renee and we called her Nay Nay. But that's a tough one my husband and I are happily married but if anything did ever happen I would not want my son calling someone else mom.OR if he calls his mom "mom" maybe he could call you another verison of mom. Like, Momma, Mommy, Mother (although that to me sounds too formal)
Hope that helps.
Let us know what y'all decide. Good Luck

Answer 5

how about.. stepmom, ah so creative. just kiddin.. maybe something similar to mom like mother or ma... thats not too babyish, unless you want that, mama, mommy. or he could just make up a nice nickname for you.. this does seem like a difficult thing to think of, i think most stepkids call the step parents by their real names

Answer 6

Um mm....
I have a step mom and a step dad.
I call my step mom by her first name and my step dad, dad (because I lived with him)
Maybe he could call you a short for your first name, or he could call you Makuahine (macuka-hine) its Hawaiian for mother.
Hope that helps

Answer 7

I know a little girl who calls her step mother "sugar mama"
I think it's cute :)

Answer 8

If not mom...How about mama? or miss, missy, mam, or just tell him to come up with it. That he is welcome to call you anything he is comfortable with as long as it is endearing.

Answer 9

How about ladybug or starlight or sunshine.

Answer 10

mam, or your first name!