Since my wife has kids with husband one, we have a lot of family gatherings where we are all together. Her ex and I don't have a problem with each other, but I feel disrespectful call his mom by her first name when everyone else is calling her mom, and I feel like a little kid when I call her Mrs. Whatever.
What would you recommend?
2007-09-03 10:22:00 · 20 answers · asked by yurbud 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
I would eaither ask her what she prefers, or just by her first name...
2007-09-03 10:27:23 · answer #1 · answered by Art G 4 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Well, she isn't your mother or your mother in law. So because you are all adults, her first name is acceptable. Unless she is a prude and feels she wants to be called Mrs whatever. Does she seem annoyed when you use her first name? It is her name you know, I am sure lots of people use it to address her. Don't be so uptight. If it really bothers you, ask her what she prefers you use.
2007-09-03 21:45:33 · answer #2 · answered by onedrin 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YB,
simply ask her what she likes to be called. It only becomes difficult if she tells you "Mom". Then you have a concern, because you are husband #2 this may be a degredation on your status with your wife, step children, and YOUR side of the family.
Something tells me however that you will be OK and that she may in fact just want you to call her by her first name.
Best to you!
Gerry
2007-09-03 17:41:39 · answer #3 · answered by Gerry 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would ask your wife's ex-husband to "introduce" ya'll. The conversation would go like this usually:
Ex: Mom this is_____, _____'s husband. _____ this is my mother _____.
Her: Please call me_____.
You: It's nice to meet you _____.
Her: It's nice to meet you as well _____.
I really didn't know how to explain that but, that would be my suggestion. Until then call her Mrs. Last name you can't go wrong with that and if she wants to go by somthing else she'll tell you. Hope this helps!
2007-09-03 21:54:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds great that you have such a good relationship with your wife's first husbands family. You should probably ask the first husband's mother how you should call her.
2007-09-03 19:15:20 · answer #5 · answered by Tea C 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call her Mrs. __ or use her first name if she prefers that. Ask her what she would like.
2007-09-03 17:37:39 · answer #6 · answered by notyou311 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You're not even remotely related so "Mom" is inappropriate. Her first name or Mrs.... is all you have.
I call my mother in law by her first name. Nothing wrong with it, at all.
2007-09-03 20:16:26 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call her Miss Sally {or whatever her name is}, AND it IS appropriate to be respectful and call her Mrs. Jones. Noone will think of it as "childish". No need to apologize for having manners.
2007-09-03 17:29:40 · answer #8 · answered by Scorpius59 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Ask her, just say "what would you prefer to be called" or "what would you like me to call you".......? No one else will know like she will, so she's the only one who can help you with this.
2007-09-06 17:47:57 · answer #9 · answered by Annie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By her first name. She is not your mother. I call my husband's mother by her first name.
2007-09-03 19:05:32 · answer #10 · answered by Pacifica 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I would ask her what her preferences are, or call her what the kids call her, Nanna, or Grammy or whatever it is that the kids call her in your family.
2007-09-03 18:49:47 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋