How can I get my nieces to call me "Aunt"? Or esp. have my mom-in-law ask them to?

Question

My husband and I have been together for ten years. We have three kids, ages 9, 8, and 4. He also has a 16 year old from a previous relationship. My husband's brother and his wife have been together for maybe seven years. Their family consists of the husband's child (13), the wife's child(10), and the one child they had together (5). My mother-in-law makes my children call their uncle's wife "Aunt Melissa" but I have only ever been called "Karen" by my nieces. Granted, my brother in law and his wife have been married longer than my husband and I have, 6 years to our 3, but other than that, their kids have never known any other woman in my husband's life to refer to as "aunt". My husband and I are sick of this. We can't figure out why this is going on or how to change it. He is trying to get our kids to stop calling Melissa "aunt" at least until his brother's kids call me "Aunt." Can you guys out there in Yahoo Answers land follow all that? Do you have any advice you can offer me? I'd appreciate it!

Update:

We're in the US. My husband's whole family is kind of old-fashioned, 100% Italian, so to them, the titles are a big respect thing. They're important to me as well. (not so old-fashioned, Irish/German/Polish decent)

Treasury M · Accepted Answer

I understand you respect just like everybody else have you ever tried asking them to call u aunt because their auntie or ask their parents to tell them to call you aunt looking at the ages it might be hard if they do start calling you aunt you fell kinda funny because after all this time but 

Hope it works out

? · Answer

Some people are very defensive over their family. I have had a best friend who has lived with me and my family since 12 years old. She had a baby (as an adult) and her MIL had the nerve to tell my niece..."Don't call her Momma (about my mother) She's not your Momma she's not blood" But this lady had many adopted kids (none of them from infant)  and if anyone ever said that about her daughters child an her she would be devastated. Some people are just not nice people. Sorry we both seem to have them in the family tree!

warrior · Answer

I understand the whole respect thing but it's not that big of a deal.  The only thing you can do is speak to his brother and have him tell his children about it.  I just really don't see the big deal of having that title.  Dragging your kids into it and making them do something that you are trying to change with your nieces is hypocritical on your part

? · Answer

Bypass the adults involved and simply ask the kids to call you aunt and uncle.  If you ask them in a nice way and tell them it would make you happy, they will probably do it.

Anonymous · Answer

I think it just depends on the person. I mean I have two aunties that I'm equally close to called Glenda and Bella but I always just call Glenda, Glenda, but I call Bella Auntie Bell.

Melissa · Answer

im in ireland so im assuming that where your from this is a big deal because here we call our aunts by their first name, if i was talking to my daughter about her aunt i would say auntie ellie but otherwise they are referred to by name my daughter called me mel til she was two it didnt bother me because id rather she called me mel with respect than mom with none

Give Blood · Answer

Why is it important?

Trending News

How can I get my nieces to call me "Aunt"? Or esp. have my mom-in-law ask them to?

7 Answers