First name basis

I always thought it was weird when kids called their parents by their first names. I still do. It seems a little disrespectful maybe, and certainly uncomfortable, like there's some kind of unnatural distance between parent and child or some strange order in their relationship. I was so uncomfortable with it that it was even hard for me to call my friends' parents by their first names when I was a kid. I just didn't know what to call them but first names seemed crazy and Mr. or Mrs. seemed too formal for my closest friends parents.


It is probably because of my childhood discomfort with this that the Animalia is apparently on a first name basis with us, her parents. Her nana thought it was funny when she'd ask "¿Quien es Maya?" and Animalia would point to me, her mama. Her nana also thought it was funny when she'd ask "¿Quien es Jimmy?" and the Animalia would point to her daht. So now, about half of the time when she calls us she calls us by our first names. It's a week bit heartbreaking as I prefer Mama, Mom, Mommy, and Mum-- the names she used to call me. Daddy used to always be Daht, Da, Daddy-- and now he's Jimmy. Not all the time but enough for me to purse my lips and have to do my best to completely ignore it.