“That’s not your child. You’re not a mom”: Man calls his wife “mommy” in reference to their dog making party guest uncomfortable, he gets more sarcastic with her

Author image for Briana Viser
Briana Viser • Writer and Editor
May 16, 2025 1:00 PM EDT

Hey there internet folk. We all have used pet names in some way, whether it's with our partners, friends, or family. My sister just had a baby, and we love calling her all sorts of names that aren't her actual name, like "monster girl," "piglet," and "the sweetness." In relationships, the use of babe and baby take high priority, but of course couples all have their own pet names. I've heard of things like dove, bug, pumpkin, chicky, just to name a few. And of course, when we have actual pets we always refer to them as our children.

I have a pet cat, and of course I call him my son, and I'm his mother. It's completely normal, even if aliens came down and wondered why we're so bonded to a species so unlike our own. Even within actual marriages the married couple will refer to each other as "mom" and "dad" if they have children. 

In the story below, the protagonist is a man who's at a party with his wife and dog. He refers to his wife as "mommy" because it was in reference to their dog. Despite it being about their dog, it makes a party guest, a woman, deeply uncomfortable. She questions his use of the word mommy, and he only becomes more sarcastic with her. 

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  • 01

    AITAH for pushing back against someone who took issue with me jokingly calling my wife “mommy” (in reference to our dog)?

    "Would you prefer we call ourselves master?”
    via evablancophotos / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    Saw another post that reminded me about this today. I was with my wife and my dog at a friends cookout party. Joking, having fun. Good time, good food.
    via u/DoBetter-OrMaybeNot
  • 03
    Referred to my wife as "mommy" in a quick moment when we were talking about our dog. One of the friends, a woman, was like "that's not your child. You're not a mom" to my wife.
    via u/DoBetter-OrMaybeNot
  • 04
    I stepped closer to the woman first to kinda just make her feel uneasy. And I was like very lowly and earnestly "actually we had this dog inserted into my wife's womb as a puppy so we could have a legitimate dog birth."
    via u/DoBetter-OrMaybeNot
  • 05
    When she looked at me like she believed me for a split second (my sarcasm is super dry and almost indistinguishable from truth). I was like "heh nah I'm just kidding. We didn't do that. Wait do you actually think that my wife thinks she is the biological mother of my dog?"
    via u/DoBetter-OrMaybeNot
  • 06
    The woman didn't really have a comeback to that and mumbled something about how she just doesn't like it when people refer to themselves as mommy or daddy with their dogs.
    via u/DoBetter-OrMaybeNot

  • This woman has no right to tell other people who they're mothers and fathers to. What if she said it to someone who has some sort of trauma with that? It would be extremely insensitive. She should think before she speaks. 

  • 07
    Cheezburger Image 10505565184
    via nd3000 from Getty Images / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 08
    "Would you prefer we call ourselves 'master?" I asked. But the conversation was over at that point I guess.
    via u/DoBetter-OrMaybeNot
  • 09
    Did I go too hard there? I don't believe I did. Edit: lol, I love when people take figures of speech seriously.
    via u/DoBetter-OrMaybeNot
  • 10
    Dependent-Cow428 • 15h ago I went to a work party with my estranged husband once. We were having a Great Time. One of his coworkers came up and asked if I was his new girlfriend. "I said, OH, she couldn't make it, so he brought his wife." You'd have thought I shot her.
    via u/Dependent-Cow428
  • 11
    thefinalhex⚫ 15h ago I'm frankly uncomfortable with your choice to step closer to the woman to kinda just make her feel uneasy. That is as f…….……..
    via u/thefinalhex
  • 12
    Open Ferret9870 • 16h ago You both s k IMO. She is a bit uptight by making that comment but what the h lis up with "I stepped closer to the woman first to kinda just make her feel uneasy." Like, why be a creep?
    via u/Open Ferret9870
  • 13
    Cheezburger Image 10505564672
    via Helena Lopes from Pexels / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 14
    • Comprehensive-End... 15h ago You wouldn't be the a_h_le except for wanting to intimidate her. That's a move.
    via u/Comprehensive-End388
  • 15
    • Striking-Amoeba-5... 16h ago ESH. She shouldn't have confronted you. I am not a fan of all the 'fur baby' stuff either but I wouldn't say anything. You do you. Not my business, and not her business. She's the al e on that one.
    via u/Striking-Amoeba-53
  • 16
    But a bloke deliberately stepping into a woman's space to make her feel uneasy? That is also behaviour. Mate, you need to not do that kind of thing again, it's kind of red flag-ish.
    via u/Striking-Amoeba-53
  • 17
    HoshiJones 15h ago ESH. Her for sticking her nose where it didn't belong; and you for deliberately physically intimidating a woman. She was no physical threat to you or your wife.
    via u/HoshiJones
  • 18
    • you... 15h ago • Edited 14h ago ESH, you shouldn't have tried to intimidate her like that, especially assuming you're a dude (correct me if I'm wrong, please)
    via u/youvebeensamboozled
  • 19
    edit: even if you're not a dude, intimidation still s ks
    via u/youvebeensamboozled

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dogs drama relationships mommy lol Party couples love reddit thread Reddit sarcasm funny dating
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