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Are You My Mother?

Sun, 10/21/2007 - 10:30am by PetSugar
7,090 Views - 50 comments

Multi-gazillionaire Leona Helmsley made the news in August when she left $12 million dollars to her dog, Trouble, in her will. At my last count, more than 20 states have legalized such provisions, changing pet owners into pet guardians, and making it possible to will animals money and leave plans for their care. Regardless of any legal terminology or considerations, many people use varying parental titles in relation to their pets. I admit that buying myself a new outfit on Mother's Day and calling it a present from my dog could be a tad over the top, yet I don't consider myself that crazy to call myself North's "mama" ... but is it just me? I'm curious how you feel.

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50 Comments Add a Comment

  • gossipqueen's picture
    gossipqueen
    1

    mom, dad, grandma, kids, grandchildren...just rolls off...calling it silly or stupid...is def. not an option... Eye-wink

    we do get made fun of sometimes lol...but that usually comes from petless, childless friends...and all in good fun.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • lisafrank's picture
    lisafrank
    2

    I voted sometimes, but I think when no one is around I let it flow more freely. haha My animals are my kids and frankly at this point in my life they are better than children! Smiling

    gossipqueen- I agree with you, people with kids that have never loved their animals as much as I do, just dont understand.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • grrlyrebel's picture
    grrlyrebel
    4

    I'm a proud parent/owner of two rescued doggies. Even though I love them to pieces and get sick to my stomach every time I hear Mike Vick-esque stories in the news, I feel a bit silly calling myself "mommy" in front of others, especially non-pet owners.

    I also have to think that for me, willing lots of money to my pets is a little over the top, especially when there are plenty of starving children that could benefit from these funds.

    Yes, ensuring my pets' wellness is important, and perhaps most especially when I'm gone, but I just have to assume that little Eliza and Lady probably won't notice the difference between a Burberry sweater and a Target one, and I won't be there to enjoy it, so.....

    That being said, what people choose to do with their money is for the most part their business, so kudos to those 20+ states who have legalized pet-friendly estate provisions!

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • poodlemom's picture
    poodlemom
    6

    My husband definately call each other Mommy or Daddy when talking to our babies. My co-workers giggle when I call the vet or groomer to make an appointment for Precious Smith. They are my babies and it's my resposiblity to take care of them; so why not Mommy?

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • gruaig_rua's picture
    gruaig_rua
    7

    I do it in a jokey way. I call myself Mama and my parents her grandparents! I've told my parents that I'm not having kids so they had better make the most of it!

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • allourregrets's picture
    allourregrets
    8

    Miya is my baby, and I am her mommy. I dont care how wierd or silly people think it is.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • aembry396's picture
    aembry396
    11

    I NEVER thought I would be that kind of girl...but I got Pen and 2 weeks later both me and my hubs were refering to eachother as mom and dad. I also never liked being called a princess as a girl, but I totally call her PRINCESS! I am so sad and lovin' it!

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • divinelight's picture
    divinelight
    13

    My dogs are my sisters not my babies since they live with my parents. It's great when my parents get mad and accidentally call me or my sister one of the dogs' names.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • redegg's picture
    redegg
    14

    My hubby started the "mommy and daddy" and at first it was weird to me but now totally normal. I don't have any children so Scruff IS my baby. But I don't say it in front of strangers.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • popgoestheworld's picture
    popgoestheworld
    15

    I call my two cats my "babies" and I say Mommy and Daddy from time to time.

    If you had told me I would be like this _before_ I got pets, I would have rolled my eyes and said it was not possible.

    But something in me totally snapped and I love my two little girls to pieces! Of course, I don't have actual children yet so I can't say what I'll be like when that happens.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • theboyslover's picture
    theboyslover
    16

    yeah I'm a 'single parent' haha. but that lady, with her selfish self could've gave 12 million dollars to starving kids all over the globe. such a shame. I spend 50-75 dollars a year on my dog, tops. That includes his food and the goofy clothes I buy for him.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • tdamji's picture
    tdamji
    17

    i don't have pets but when i did, i considered myself their mom.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • PJ PJ PJ's picture
    PJ PJ PJ
    19

    Our dog knew me as Mommy & my husband as Daddy. I wouldn't have even considered anything else. We don't have any children, but I think that even if we did it would be the same.

    Don't feel silly, Pet. We have Mother's Day & Father's Day cards from our girl & we always did presents too! Why wouldn't you?

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • MandyJoBo's picture
    MandyJoBo
    20

    I don't think of my cats as children--they are much better. I call them my babies simply as a globally-excepted term of endearment to express how much I love them. There will always be people who consider animals 'just' pets, and I am not one of them, thankfully.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • hyper somnia's picture
    hyper somnia
    22

    It's a little weird, I feel funny calling myself mama to my dog so we call my mom mama...and sometimes my big sister "auntie".

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • Phasekitty's picture
    Phasekitty
    23

    My boyfriend and I have no problem being "Mommy" and "Daddy." We're young, we don't have kids yet, so taking care of a puppy really is like taking care of a child for us right now. Our moms even call him their "granddoggy" and refer to themselves as "Grandma" around him. It's a little strange sometimes, but it definitely came easily to us without thinking when we got the pup.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • poom's picture
    poom
    24

    i'm a "sister" too, and by the way that's the cutest dog glass ever.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • melody20's picture
    melody20
    25

    i don´t buy myself gifts on mother´s day, but yes i consider my kitty, better, my kitties -one is taking care of my mom right now, in other city- my daughters! Smiling

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • chancleta's picture
    chancleta
    26

    we're totally his human mommy and daddy
    BUT
    i would never leave him money
    i might have who i'd like to care for him to my will and leave them some money for taking care of him
    but $12 mil to your dog is crazy talk

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • ALSW's picture
    ALSW
    27

    I try not to do it when other people are around, but I definitely call my kitties my babies! And we're their mom and dad. I can't help it! I just love them so much - definitely a part of the family.

    And my MIL calls them her grandkitties!

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • Murple's picture
    Murple
    28

    I only refer to myself and my husband as mom and dad when I'm talking to our cats. They are brother and sister, even though they are both shelter pets and I doubt they are really related.

    My snake is my princess, but not my baby. It would feel weird referring to my snake like that.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • miss fabulous's picture
    miss fabulous
    29

    ok im sorry to yall that do this but i think its just weird. I love my pets but i am not their mama sorry. I love them like a mother but i am daffinitly not refering to myself as such

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • SummerBaby's picture
    SummerBaby
    30

    yes when i have a puppy.. my boyfriend and i are going to be mom n dad!! haha.. i just think its too cute! and you really are their parent... your the one who pays to keep them full healthy and happy! and thats what mommy"s and daddy'S are for ! Smiling

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • Lovely_1's picture
    Lovely_1
    31

    Yupp!
    My boyfriend even calls me mommy to my kitty!
    I call him dad too Eye-wink
    And when he had hi doggy he called himself dad too!

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • kiwitwist's picture
    kiwitwist
    32

    I have plans for my dogs if something where to happen to me. It isn't written down but I would hope that my parents would honor my wishes.

    I am Storm's Momma. She also has a human Dad, Granddad & Nana!

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • cubadog's picture
    cubadog
    33

    I always say come give your mamma a kiss to my dog he is my child.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • stefsprl's picture
    stefsprl
    34

    I'm like a lot of other people here -- if you had asked me before I had pets, I would have thought it was weird, but now we always say to our puppy "Go get the mom (or dad)" -- and she knows to come find us. It's actually pretty cute. And our kitties are totally our babies, too. We rescued one of them when she was a couple of days old, and she has always called out to us with this little sound that we found out is actually how kittens call to their mama cats. So, if she's going to call us her mom, we might as well, too!

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • mn48225's picture
    mn48225
    35

    Hehe. Cute stories, everyone! =)

    My bf thought it was silly that I call my dog my "baby" but now that he has gotten so attached to Fuji, he refers to himself as "Fuji's daddy". Lol. I heard him say to Fuji once, "Whose my baby boy?"

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • dinoslovedonuts's picture
    dinoslovedonuts
    36

    At the kennel where I work, we often say things like, "Oh Peaches is still here? When is her mom coming?" It seems more natural than, "Where are her people/owners?"

    We also use the family's last name for the animals because so many pets have the same name. (We have 3 Lucys right now). The nurses who talk to humans as well as animals have an easier time remembering their family names.

    I want to adopt another dog the minute I'm out of college, but I have trouble imagining myself calling the dog my baby. Maybe because I think of myself as way too young to be the mother of anything.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • arienne's picture
    arienne
    37

    Lol! My dog thinks "mommy" and "daddy" are our names. When I come home I asked him "Where's daddy?" and he rushes around the house until he finds my husband. It's very cute Smiling

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • aluna86jh's picture
    aluna86jh
    39

    Not it's not silly. In my family we they are the kids and the grandkids. When my mom comes home, I yell really loudly, "Mommy's home!" And they know exactly what it means and start barking.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • Tari007's picture
    Tari007
    40

    I do it. I call myself their mommy and my bf is their daddy. It's silly I know, but I do it. *giggles*

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • gab6784's picture
    gab6784
    41

    I don't say that I am Sandy's or Rocco's "mommy" but I do say they are my babies and before I actually had a baby I said they were my kids. I think there is anything wrong with saying you're your pets mommy/daddy.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • mangopassion's picture
    mangopassion
    42

    My husband and I totally call each other Mom and Dad to our dog. It just kind of happened that way. Hey Pet- where did you get that photograph? We have a miniature schnauzer like the one pictured, my hubby would crack up!

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • LoneWolf's picture
    LoneWolf
    44

    Wow, I'm surprised at how many people do this. I hate it, and I'm a pet owner.

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment
  • thefuturist's picture
    thefuturist
    45

    My first dog was my sister, and so her two kids that I have are my nieces XD I'm not ashamed to say that stuff in front of people either! I love my babies!

    1 year 4 weeks ago Report Comment