Today, my mom called me by the wrong name. This isn't the first time. It wouldn't be so bad, except I'm her only kid. FML
Collection
Halloween
A failed costume, stolen candy and a very real scare: Halloween, the one night when fear is allowed.
Today, my mom called me by her favorite TV show character's name. Again. This is the eighth time this week. I'm an only child, and I'm 15. I thought she had my name down pat by now. FML
Today, my phone rang for the first time in four days. It was my mom. She dialed the wrong number. FML
Today, an old friend of my mom's yelled at me for "ignoring" her. I wasn't responding because she was getting my name wrong, so I assumed she was referring to someone else. FML
Today, my four-year-old daughter called me by her mom's new boyfriend's name. Three different times. FML
Today, my grandmother called. She greeted me by my mother's name. When I told her it wasn't my mother, she apologized and corrected herself, but this time she addressed me as my sister. When I told her it wasn't my sister either, she said, "Sorry, wrong number" and hung up. FML
Today, I found out that I’ve been greeting a coworker by the wrong name for six weeks. The worst part? They never corrected me because they thought it was funny, especially because it turns out to be their mom's name. FML
Today, I had another phone call with my mother; she has rapid onset dementia, and never gets my name right anymore. Already terrible, but she consistently calls me by my abusive ex-partner’s name instead of my own, so I get double trauma. Obviously F her life, but also FML
Today, my mom struggled tried to say my name. She said my brother's name, my sister's, my dad's, my uncle's, and finally my cat's (who doesn't even have a human name) before she gave up and said, "You!" and pointed at me. FML
Today, I accidentally called my friend by the wrong name. She's no longer speaking to me, because she thinks I have absolutely zero respect for her, and don’t care about her at all. In reality, she just looks exactly like the person whose name I called her by. FML
Today, I found out that I've been calling my boyfriend's dad by the wrong name for the past two years. No one had told me sooner because they liked laughing at me for it when I wasn't around. FML
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Top comments
RichardPencil 32
I'm sorry to hear that, Bartholomew. Did you ever think, Griselda, that your mom is mentally impaired?
Chazzster 32
OP, is there a possibility that dementia is a factor? If it is, Mom probably cannot help it. That’s grim, but it’s not a thing intended to be hurtful. If Mom has dementia or Alzheimer’s or you think she might, you should speak to her doctor - They can usually eventually confirm the diagnosis and hopefully explain the best way to deal with Mom. If that is the case you are looking at a long dark road ahead and it’s best to know what to expect… And then again there might be other reasons for this. Mom might be really bad at remembering names but be otherwise quite functional. My Mom told me that when she was pregnant with me, they had a name picked out for me, but when I was born they decided I looked like the name they actually gave me (I share my Father’s first and last name and for most of my life have had a strong resemblance to my Dad). Maybe your mom went through something like that or you bear a resemblance to someone she knew? … Anyway I don’t think it’s likely your Mom meant to be hurtful, but there could be a reason for calling you the wrong name. OP, if Mom seems of clear mind, I suggest asking her why she called you a different name but not in a hostile or accusing fashion. It might be an interesting story…
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Comments (2)
RichardPencil 32
I'm sorry to hear that, Bartholomew. Did you ever think, Griselda, that your mom is mentally impaired?
Chazzster 32
OP, is there a possibility that dementia is a factor? If it is, Mom probably cannot help it. That’s grim, but it’s not a thing intended to be hurtful. If Mom has dementia or Alzheimer’s or you think she might, you should speak to her doctor - They can usually eventually confirm the diagnosis and hopefully explain the best way to deal with Mom. If that is the case you are looking at a long dark road ahead and it’s best to know what to expect… And then again there might be other reasons for this. Mom might be really bad at remembering names but be otherwise quite functional. My Mom told me that when she was pregnant with me, they had a name picked out for me, but when I was born they decided I looked like the name they actually gave me (I share my Father’s first and last name and for most of my life have had a strong resemblance to my Dad). Maybe your mom went through something like that or you bear a resemblance to someone she knew? … Anyway I don’t think it’s likely your Mom meant to be hurtful, but there could be a reason for calling you the wrong name. OP, if Mom seems of clear mind, I suggest asking her why she called you a different name but not in a hostile or accusing fashion. It might be an interesting story…