What do you call your in-laws?

[PinkSunshine]

I call them by their names.... We don't see them too often (maybe once or twice a year) and I don't talk to them on the phone that often either (maybe five times a year) so it's not too often I talk to them.

My husband calls my parents by their names as well

[Cookiebaker]

I am very close to Mark's parents, probably closer than my own parents. I was especially close to Mark's Mom, and always called her "Mom". As far as Dad goes, I sometimes call him "Grandpa" too, because well, he seems to ba typical one.

[Craftlady]

Mom and Dad for my inlaws.
My FIL has passed away, I refer to him as "Dad" when speaking with hubby or my MIL.

My hubby doesnt talk to my mom that often on the phone.
He refers to her as "your mom" in conversations between two of us.

[G535]

Ask them what names they would like you to use.

[prechrswife]

I call mine by their first names, but when the baby gets here, I will probably refer to them as Grandmama and Granddaddy just as often as I will use their names.

[Edwina's Secretary]

I called mine Mr. and Mrs. for quite a while. Mind you, I met them I was 40 but still it felt respectful. They always refer to themselves (as when they call) as Walt and Wanda. I finally started calling them that...although like Karen...I really avoid calling them anything.

[pitc9]

I call my in-laws by their first names, it took me a few years to do so, but once I did I felt MUCH more comfortable then calling them Mr. & Mrs.
It also helps that we go out with them once in a while to bars and stuff, so at times they are more like friends.
As for my hubby, he still calls my parents Mr. & Mrs. even though we've been together for 13 years! He just can't bring himself to call them by their first names. They keep telling him to call them by their first names, but he just still can't do it!!

[king2005]

I'm not married to my b/f lol its only been a month.. but i call his mother.. ummm nothing.. I kept forgetting her name & would just say hello, how are you.. I know her ename now & still never use it... I call his dad by his first name.. these people aren't formal or anything, so its easy to get away with it..

When I was growing up, we had to call our friends parents Mr. or Mrs or Miss X (fill in last name) & my friends had to do the same to my folks.. But times have changed & my sisters friends call our parents mom & dad (I could never do that to someone eles' folks) & my sister calls her friends parents mom & dad it makes no sence to me & just sounds all wrong. One of my friend tried to call my dad, dad & I litterly jumped down their throat & said his name is Frank...I find calling MY dad dad to be rude in my eyes

[Cataholic]

I want Jonah's friends, when he acquires them, to call me Johanna. That is my name, my preference. I don't have problems with authority, and it doesn't denote respect for me (others might be different) for me to be addressed as Ms. blankety blank. It denotes formality. It distances us. That is different. I don't want formality in my life. I don't want distance. I want closeness, affection, etc. If genuine affection and closeness doesn't bring about respect/authority issues, I have failed. I haven't aquired it somehow by the way someone addresses me.

There is someone at work that would call me 'maam'. She said, "oh, that is just what I was taught, it is respectful". Really? How can calling someone your junior in age, despite them asking you NOT to be considered respectful? N-O-T!

So, ask your inlaws what they prefer. It is the ONLY sensible thing to do.

[Toby's my baby]

I'm not married, but my SIL calls my mom by her first name, and my other SIL just says "hi" and never really uses a name. If I were you, I would do as suggested before, ask them what they would like to be called. In the past, I have called my boyfriends mom's "mom" Just as Johanna said, it seems to bring you closer. The two women that I call/ called "mom" I was much closer to. Good luck!