Dear Prudence,
My boyfriend and his ex-wife have two teenage daughters, and they all call each other “Mommy” and “Daddy.” As in, the parents still call each other Mommy and Daddy when referring to or speaking to one another, and the daughters do as well. I completely understand children using these terms with their parents, but I have to admit that when the adults call each other Mommy and Daddy, it just … weirds me out. I can’t pinpoint exactly why—it just feels off.
To be clear, I’m not looking to ask them to change how they speak to one another; it’s clearly a longstanding, affectionate part of their family dynamic. But I’m struggling with how to shake this ick-factor reaction I have. How can I stop feeling so uncomfortable about something that objectively isn’t hurting anyone?