Man Gets The Heat From Brother And SIL For Allowing Nephews To Call Him “Inappropriate” Nicknames For Pets

How harmful can nicknames really be? Let’s find out!

Jesse

• Published in Interesting
• January 10, 2023

Whether they are the traditional "baby" or a more novel term of love, pet names are adorable. That’s why almost everyone has or calls another person a pet name. 

Asides from being so darn cute, pet names surprisingly have multiple benefits. For one, science proves that introducing pet names to your relationship makes you more likely to maintain a solid relationship.

According to research, people who use pet names are 16% more likely to be happy in their relationship. These names show affection and give people a sense of belonging in relationships.

However, while some people think pet names are the cutest after actual pets, others believe they're saccharine and juvenile. 

We found one Redditor whose family belongs to the latter school of thought. 

OP shared on the AITA community on Reddit that his husband calls him bunny or puppy as a term of endearment. And while his family found it weird, OP couldn’t care less.

He didn’t understand the full extent of their displeasure with the names until it became pretty apparent when his SIL and brother complained when their children started calling him the pet names. 

OP and his husband had taken the children in for three months when their parents needed childcare. During that time, the children had picked up on OP’s husband calling him pet names and started calling him by those names.

Unfortunately, OP’s family got upset when they heard it, and OP complained about them being ungrateful. This led him to ask the AITA question.

Check out the story below:

Let's dig in!

OP explained that for close to a decade, pet names have become a norm in his relationship with his husband

However, some of his family members find it uncomfortable, especially when this pet-name-calling happens in public

The root of all this fracas started when OP's brother's kids needed childcare, which he and his husband offered all summer

While spending time with the couple, the kids caught on to the pet names that were being used between OP and his husband

Things escalated when OP's brother and SIL heard their kids refer to their uncle using these "inappropriate" pet names

We gathered the most interesting comments on the situation:

Maybe things would have been different if OP was a female

"The only AHs here are their parents, for turning the fact that their kids picked up on something loving and affectionate and harmless, and trying to turn it into something ugly."

"NTA...There's no reason he should be angry at you, or your husband. It's not like it was a bad word or a double entendre or anything."

"Your nephews’ parents should be more grateful to you and your husband for not only being loving, caring uncles but super helpful ones, too."

"Absolutely NTA. It’s not like it’s anything sexual or obscene."

"NTA - Your names are not inappropriate or words viewed gross by the culture."

"if they want their kids to refer to you with a specific name, they should have said so sooner... Instead of waiting until they no longer needed your help."

"I wonder if your brother and SIL would've had a problem, if you were Aunt Bunny instead."

"A**hole? No, however I would find it awkward, and I understand why their parents did."

"I feel like this has more to do with your sexuality than the name."

"They might think you're into pup play or a furry?"

OP received a lot of love and support from the Reddit community. Many assured him that he had nothing to feel sorry for as the names weren’t inappropriate to them.

Some even wondered if there was more to OP’s family’s displeasure. Would things have been different if OP was female? Well, no one knows.

What are your thoughts on OP's brother and SIL's reaction to their kids saying those pet names? We’d love to see them in the comments section! 

Jesse