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Post by melodyesch on Nov 7, 2016 20:57:47 GMT
Just reading the thread about the kid calling the family friend "Grandpa" and that got me thinking about my SIL's family. DH is SIL's only sibling. BIL has one brother that he doesn't really see a lot. So my niece has two uncles (DH and BIL's brother) and one aunt (me). But it seems like every single friend that SIL and BIL has is an "Aunt" or "Uncle" to my niece. Even if it's someone they don't know very well.
Similarly, my SIL calls her mother-in-law "Mom." I would NEVER call my MIL "Mom" for several reasons. 1. My own dear mother is dead. 2. Were my Mom alive, she would probably feel hurt. 3. My MIL is not motherly.
Sooo, do you have your kids call someone unrelated by names that would usually denote family relationships? Although it doesn't hurt my feelings, it does seem odd. I was there the day that my niece was born and am active in her life. My DH and I would be the ones to raise her, should her parents die. It just seems strange for her to call someone else "Aunt."
Melody
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quiltz
Drama Llama

Posts: 7,086
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Jun 29, 2014 16:13:28 GMT
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Post by quiltz on Nov 7, 2016 21:02:46 GMT
It can be a sign of respect to call an adult aunt or uncle, rather than calling them by their first name or Mr or Mrs.
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scrappinspidey2
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,511
Location: In the Parlor with the Fly
Mar 18, 2015 19:19:37 GMT
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Post by scrappinspidey2 on Nov 7, 2016 21:03:32 GMT
I call my MIL mom. It fits her and all the other in laws call her mom too. It doesn't seem to offend anyone in the family.
I did call another woman mom till she passed away this past May. I still refer to her as my mom and her children call me their sister. She was in all ways except biological my mom. She was there for me when my mom wasn't. She took me under her wing as a very lost and confused teenager and has remained in my life for 23 years till cancer took her from us. I'm pretty sure my moms feelings might have been stung by this relationship, but i don't feel bad for it. I was blessed to have this woman in my life and who loved me regardless.
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Post by leannec on Nov 7, 2016 21:04:53 GMT
Nope ... even my (very close) adult cousins are called by their first names by my teenage dd's ... true aunt's and uncle's are given those names ... I'm an only child so that means that dd's only have those on dh's side of the family ... I call MIL "Nana" which is what dd's call her ... it makes me comfortable and she is used to it
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Rhondito
Pearl Clutcher
MississipPea
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Jun 25, 2014 19:33:19 GMT
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Post by Rhondito on Nov 7, 2016 21:05:12 GMT
A couple of my daughter's friends call me mama and I don't mind one bit. Neither does my daughter.
My parents had friends who we called aunt and uncle, but they were very very close friends.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 20:04:52 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2016 21:05:38 GMT
It can be a sign of respect to call an adult aunt or uncle, rather than calling them by their first name or Mr or Mrs.  My kids call my BF "auntie" and my kids are now adults and still do and her kids call me auntie. We are closer than sisters so it is very appropriate!
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River
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Posts: 3,627
Jun 26, 2014 15:26:04 GMT
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Post by River on Nov 7, 2016 21:08:01 GMT
My DH has a best friend that is closer than a brother to him. They've been friends since middle school. My boys have grown up calling him "uncle" even though they know he's not related. This friend does not have children of his own, nor any nieces or nephews or close relatives. He treats my boys just like they were his nephews and it's been a great relationship for all involved. Not weird at all to us.
I loved my MIL dearly, but never wanted to call her mom. She loved being a "Nana" and that's what she was called by everyone except her children. She was more of a mother to me than my own mother and I was very close to her. Her passing was almost as bas as when I lost my beloved daddy.
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smcast
Drama Llama

Posts: 5,509
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Mar 18, 2016 14:06:38 GMT
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Post by smcast on Nov 7, 2016 21:13:30 GMT
I don't.
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Post by arielsmom on Nov 7, 2016 21:15:14 GMT
I grew up calling my parents close friends "Aunt" and "Uncle". In our home, that was a sign of respect.
I called my MIL by her given name, as directed by her.
I have a second mom, who, like my mom, is now gone. My mother always worked, so I had a nanny and she is/was my second mom, she lived next door until I was a junior in high school and is a very important person in my life and development. I miss my mom and my other mom.
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Post by angieh1996 on Nov 7, 2016 21:16:31 GMT
My kids refer to my very best dearest friend Aunt Becky. She's like a sister to me and we've been friends since we were 12. That's it. They don't even call my sister or DH's brother aunt or uncle. They just use their first name.
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IAmUnoriginal
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,894
Jun 25, 2014 23:27:45 GMT
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Post by IAmUnoriginal on Nov 7, 2016 21:21:13 GMT
I don't have honorary aunts or uncles, neither do my kids. My ILs are all called by their first names.
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Dalai Mama
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La Pea Boheme
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Jun 26, 2014 0:31:31 GMT
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Post by Dalai Mama on Nov 7, 2016 21:31:38 GMT
For me, it's entirely cultural. I only have one Mom and Dad but pretty much anyone a generation or more older than me who is in any way close to the family is aunt and uncle.
I guess it takes some of the confusion out when you come from an island where there are a lot of familial cross-overs. Even at almost 50, I'm still finding out how some of my 'Aunts' and 'Uncles' are actually related to me (if at all).
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tduby1
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Posts: 2,979
Jun 27, 2014 18:32:45 GMT
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Post by tduby1 on Nov 7, 2016 21:45:35 GMT
I grew up with three "aunts" who were actually my moms b/fs in high school. I am 45 and they are still my aunts and considered family. However, my sister has a gazillion "aunts" and "uncles" for her kids and the door is rotating. I think that sort of cheapens the sentiment. Neither DH or I call our MILs or FILs "mom" or "dad". My cousin recently told me unsolicited she thinks that is weird. Honestly, I thought it weird she even had an opinion on what we call them. None of our parents would care if we called the other "mom" or "dad" and both have kid in laws that do so, it's just not what we do. (But then DH calls his dad by his first name as well, so there's that.)
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tduby1
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,979
Jun 27, 2014 18:32:45 GMT
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Post by tduby1 on Nov 7, 2016 21:46:39 GMT
For me, it's entirely cultural. I only have one Mom and Dad but pretty much anyone a generation or more older than me who is in any way close to the family is aunt and uncle. I guess it takes some of the confusion out when you come from an island where there are a lot of familial cross-overs. Even at almost 50, I'm still finding out how some of my 'Aunts' and 'Uncles' are actually related to me (if at all). My kids wer shocked to find out some of my "aunts" weren't actually aunts at all.
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Post by KikiPea on Nov 7, 2016 21:48:24 GMT
When I was a kid, there were a few friend's moms I called mom. I also called my MIL mom.
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Post by anonrefugee on Nov 7, 2016 21:48:38 GMT
I think it's a cultural or regional thing? Not really part of my background, but it's a sweet tradition.
As long as every new boyfriend of mom's isn't an uncle. (Snarky comment)
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scrappyesq
Pearl Clutcher
You have always been a part of the heist. You're only mad now because you don't like your cut.
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Jun 26, 2014 19:29:07 GMT
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Post by scrappyesq on Nov 7, 2016 21:50:24 GMT
In my family everyone who is an adult is called Auntie or Uncle. My mothers best friends are Auntie and Uncle ___ to me. DH calls my step dad Uncle because sdad was close to the family back in the day. I call one of his former neighbors Auntie because that's what everyone calls her.
Its honestly never clear who is actually related by blood and who isn't.
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Post by padresfan619 on Nov 7, 2016 21:53:39 GMT
I have zero relationships with my biological aunt and uncle on my dad's side. Haven't seen them in over 15 years. I have an amazing relationship with my mom's best friend and her husband who have been in my life since day one. They have certainly earned the title of aunt and uncle. It is much more about the time spent together as a family unit than biology, IMO. And if it hurts my dad's siblings feelings...well maybe they should have tried to have a relationship with us....
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Peal
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,524
Jun 25, 2014 22:45:40 GMT
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Post by Peal on Nov 7, 2016 22:02:49 GMT
I don't have honorary aunts or uncles, neither do my kids. My ILs are all called by their first names. Same for me. Save
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Post by scrappingirl212 on Nov 7, 2016 22:04:44 GMT
I was never a fan of calling non-Aunt/Uncles Aunt or Uncle but as I've gotten older I've gotten softer on the issue. It is kind of sweet 
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Post by cade387 on Nov 7, 2016 22:05:10 GMT
growing up in a Hawaiian family, everyone is an Auntie and Uncle.... My kids call all of my cousins and close friends Auntie and Uncle.
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raindancer
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,095
Jun 26, 2014 20:10:29 GMT
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Post by raindancer on Nov 7, 2016 22:21:49 GMT
Just reading the thread about the kid calling the family friend "Grandpa" and that got me thinking about my SIL's family. DH is SIL's only sibling. BIL has one brother that he doesn't really see a lot. So my niece has two uncles (DH and BIL's brother) and one aunt (me). But it seems like every single friend that SIL and BIL has is an "Aunt" or "Uncle" to my niece. Even if it's someone they don't know very well. Similarly, my SIL calls her mother-in-law "Mom." I would NEVER call my MIL "Mom" for several reasons. 1. My own dear mother is dead. 2. Were my Mom alive, she would probably feel hurt. 3. My MIL is not motherly. Sooo, do you have your kids call someone unrelated by names that would usually denote family relationships? Although it doesn't hurt my feelings, it does seem odd. I was there the day that my niece was born and am active in her life. My DH and I would be the ones to raise her, should her parents die. It just seems strange for her to call someone else "Aunt." Melody I have called my elderly neighbors when I was a little for grandpa Floyd and grandma Joyce and I loved them and wept at their passing. It did not diminish my relationship in any capacity with my grandparents, and they all knew each other since I love walking distance from my grandparents house. My kids call a good friend of mine aunt and her girls call me aunt. I also call yfather in law dad, and I am very close to my own parents. My mil is dead.
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Post by hop2 on Nov 7, 2016 22:27:35 GMT
My kids do not call anyone aunt or uncle if they are not their aunt or uncle. Not that I think it's wrong it just never happened. I don't know why but it just never came about.
There were a few select long long time family friends whom I called aunt or uncle growing up. In some cases I was much closer to these people than to one of my relatives. It certainly wasn't every random friend or acquaintance just a select few to whom we were very close.
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Post by newfcathy on Nov 7, 2016 22:28:44 GMT
My dad had several first cousins that he was very close to as his dad & sister had lost both parents the same year that got married. My gparents got married 3 days before grandpa's sister married one of his colleges friends. The brother & sister were very close their entire lives. They had 8 boys bet
They bought summer cottages right next to each other. I called all his cousins aunt & uncle. We have continued with this next generation, so my son calls my first cousin once removed, auntie.
In addition, we are particularly close friends with 2 couples from from college and use the aunt/uncle labels there as well. Though one of the guys just got divorced for the second time so his future wife might not be called aunt as the kids are all college aged or older
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Post by kachilyn on Nov 7, 2016 22:38:43 GMT
I have a ton of first cousins - but a handful that are super close and I consider siblings - we basically grew up together. My closest cousin (like a sister!) is pregnant and we've already decided I will be "aunt" to the baby, instead of "first cousin once removed". When they are older, we will explain the actually relationship but still have each other's kids call us "aunt".
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Post by polz on Nov 7, 2016 22:41:02 GMT
I'm Maori and from New Zealand. In my culture it is a sign of respect to call someone Aunty (Whaea) or Uncle (Matua). I have a friend who married a white dude from Scotland. He is a teacher and his students call him Matua Mark. Another friend is of Indian descent. She is also a teacher. She is referred to as Whaea Darshna.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 20:04:52 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2016 22:44:20 GMT
Auntie is different than an aunt, an auntie is from the heart , not blood. Now that is out of the way,
My cousins children all call us aunt and uncle when we have contact with them.
My husband's nieces and nephews are our age. I am not going to be called aunt by them.
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Post by librarylady on Nov 7, 2016 22:49:54 GMT
In the community of my childhood (in the south) it was what one called the close friends of one's parents. The friendship was too close for Mr/Mrs titles, and it would have been disrespectful to just use first names. Many families then turned to aunt/uncle. The other choice was that the women were Miss(first name) and the men Mr.(first name).
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Post by crazy4scraps on Nov 7, 2016 22:59:17 GMT
Both of my parents came from big families and I had a bunch of bio aunts and uncles. Since I came along toward the end of my parents large brood, I didn't have much of a relationship with most of them because their kids were all teenagers by then.
My kid has a bunch of bio aunts and uncles on my side, but only a couple of them have taken the time to build any kind of a relationship with her. We only see DH's sister and her family a couple times a year, and in spite of us sending their (now teenage) kids birthday cards with gift cards and money and Christmas gifts all their lives, she couldn't even manage to put a card in the mail for my six year old this year. So TBH I don't give a crap if DD has a relationship with her or not.
On the flip side of the coin, many of our friends have made an effort to show interest in DD and they genuinely enjoy being a part of her life. They come to her birthday parties, have invited us to come for Christmas and Thanksgiving, etc. IMO they are her true "aunties and uncles" even though they have no blood relation because they are the people who have shown her in no uncertain terms that they actually care about her. Some are honorary aunts/uncles, others are honorary grandparents. There is nothing skeevy or weird about it at all.
I occasionally called my MIL 'mom' when she was alive but was never very comfortable with that because she wasn't the mothering type at all. Now that my own mom is gone, I call my BFF's mother 'mom' without hesitation and my kid calls her grandma. When Mother's Day comes we send her a card and flowers. I've known them for over 25 years and both of them are closer than most of my own family to me.
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Post by dulcemama on Nov 7, 2016 23:09:27 GMT
I was never a fan of calling non-Aunt/Uncles Aunt or Uncle but as I've gotten older I've gotten softer on the issue. It is kind of sweet  Yeah, I was never a fan either. And then DD started calling her sitter Mama-*name* and all I could think of was how wonderful it was that she was in the care of someone she felt so safe and loved with. DD has since gone on to call a very close family friend "Aunt" and one of DH's cousins "Uncle". It's not something I encourage but if she feels that connection, it's o.k. with me. Save
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