I call my in-laws by their first names and my DH does the same for my parents (at least for my mom, we don't see my dad nearly as much). For now I'd start with Mr and Mrs. and see how they react. They will probably tell you want they want you to do.
I call them by their first names. His grandmother wants me to call her grandma, but I refuse to do it--I call her by her first name and she doesn't mind.
Mom and Pop. It took me awhile to call MIL Mom, but I know it makes her feel good, so I do it even though it is kinda weird. I really love her and I could not ask for a better MIL, so I suck it up. Pop came to be due to the fact FIL is H's step-dad. H's real Dad died when he was 16, and he has never felt comfortable calling anyone else Dad (understandably so), so Pop it is. We have also been married for 5 1/2 years, so I have had time to adjust.
H calls my Mom "mammy" (Have no idea...) and by Dad by his first name.
Another avoider here. If forced to call them something I use their first names, but I probably have only addressed them by their names a handful of times in the 4 years I have known them. They don't care, it is totally my issue. (I think it is the southerner in me coming out)
First names or grandma and grandpa if my kids are around. I avoided using their names for years but finally caved a few years ago (we've been together for almost 17 years and married almost 11). DH has been using my parents' first names from the get go at their insistence.
I call them mom & dad. Even when I talk to DH, I'll still call them mom and dad Lastname, sometimes "your parents". I don't quite understand the reason for not calling the ILs "mom" and "dad" because they are not my parents. However they are DH's parents. Husband and wife, one flesh and all.
I refer them to them as Mom and Dad now....after years of not calling them anything! I still avoid calling them any specific name if I don't have to. We met when we were young, so I started off calling them Mr. and Mrs. Last Name. They kept referring to themselves by their first names, and I just couldn't make the switch for some reason. Then we got married and they started referring to themselves as Mom and Dad, and that was hard for me too. But now that I have a new SIL who calls them that, it's become more comfortable for me.
Post by kelly072206 on May 22, 2012 18:34:12 GMT -5
By their first names. It seemed like the right move because IL's are divorced and DH calls his step parents by their first names so I figured I might as well just call everyone by their first name. DH attempts to not call my parents anything other than, 'your mom' or 'your dad.' If push came to shove I think he would call them their first names. My Mom signs cards to him Mom & Dad Lastname.
I call my ILs by their first names. It's how they asked to be addressed. H calls my parents by their first names for the same reason others have mentioned, he has a mom and dad and those are the only people he will address as such. My SIL addresses my Mom by "Mom" and I'm still weirded out by it, but my mom seems to like it.
Post by countthestars on May 22, 2012 19:19:04 GMT -5
First name. I call his grandparents grandma and grandpa though. My grandparents Have all pass but I didn't call them grandma and grandpa, I had different names for them.
I call bf's parents by their first names but would probably call them mom and dad if we get married. Sprout (my dog) has been known to call them Grammie and Poppa. Well, bf has been known to call them this on the pup's behalf
I avoid calling them anything. Me and my DH started dating when I was 20 so I just called them Mr. and Mrs. last name. It seemed weird to continue doing that after we got married but I didn't feel comfortable calling them by their first name. I don't call them mom or dad but they refer to themselves that way when they call me, example "Hey Max, it's mom."
I try not a directly address them, but if I must it is by their first names. I REFUSE to call them mom/dad. FOr some reason it seems disrespectful to my parents to do so.
Post by Rainy Night in Soho on May 22, 2012 22:47:39 GMT -5
I avoid it as much as I can! So does my SIL. Shortly after our wedding, we were all together & DHs parents asked my SIL & I what we would like to call them b/c they didn't want awkwardness. What did we do? Change the subject completely to go on avoiding it!
I asked my siblings spouses (all married for over 20 years now) and all of whom knew my parents since they were teenagers or even younger- and they pretty much avoided it until they had kids. One of my brother in law's would occasionally call my parents by their first names- and it always sounded weird (he said it was weird, too).