Mom Gets 'Upset' as Her Toddler Calls Ex-Husband's New Wife 'Mama,' Dad's Response Has People Divided

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: Creative RF/Image Source/Getty Images

Michelle Kimball is asking for advice.

In a video shared onTikTok, the North Carolina mom and influencer asked her five million followers their thoughts on a family situation that has her feeling “upset” after learning her toddler has been calling her ex-husband' new wife “Mama.”

Confused, Kimball questioned her toddler after he “said it in the car” one day. When she heard what her little one had said, she immediately confronted her ex-husband about the title.

“I marched my butt back over to the car where he was and I said, ‘Has Ryder been calling her Mama?'” — to which she said her ex-husband replied, “‘Yeah’.” When asked why, she said he explained, “‘Because she is his mom when you’re not there’.”

The single mom went on to ask her followers their opinion on the situation. “I know that there are other people going through this,” she said in the clip. “Am I just in my emotions of being upset about this?”

“Because I birthed him,” she said in her defense. “Personally, I feel like I’m the only one that gets that privilege.”

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Kimball related the scenario to her own personal experience, having grown up in a household with a mom and dad who separated when she was young.

“I can’t imagine calling somebody else mom when I was growing up. My parents did not stay together,” she explained. “I would just like to know your guys’ thoughts about this.”

“His response to you was really disrespectful,” commented one follower. “I would be livid,” wrote another."

In response to a user writing, “she shouldn’t even be okay with that…” Kimball said, “I agree! She has kids!!!!! She is good to Ryder so I’m not trying to dog her, but I’m really hurt. How would she feel if her kids called someone else mama?”

source: people.com