EDITED: How do I gently get a child to stop?

Question

I babysit for a friend and sometimes one of the kids likes to play pretend and will start calling me her mom (she's 4) and her sister will join in too.
I totally understand it's innocent fun, but it's hard on me sometimes. My husband and I have been struggling with infertility for 5 years and we have an angle baby who would be around the same age as her. 
So when we're outside and she picks flowers, runs over to me and excitedly hand them to me and says "here you go mama, these are for you". Or she's running across the yard yelling "look mommy! See how fast I'm running". It stings a little. It doesn't feel like a game to me. It's not fun for me and sometimes I'm having to fight back tears.
I'll usually silly-ly say "I'm not your mama!". She'll giggle and run off, but most of the time that makes her do it more. I try to come up with a new game and get her really excited about it to distract her from calling me mom, but that only lasts so long or she will carry it into the new game as well.
I'm also not sure how my friend would feel with her kids calling me mommy too. I haven't brought this up to her because she doesn't know about what we have been through and I don't want to sound stupid.
So when she's calling me her mom, how can I get her to stop without her realizing that's what I'm trying to do. I don't want her to feel like she can't play with me or be silly with me, but I want to redirect her in the moment. 
And just to be clear, she is playing. It's not like I spend so much time with her and she sees me as a motherly figure, so she's confused. Or anything like that. She'll call me mommy and at the same time call her sister daddy. So it's just all a game to her.
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Edit to say...
How in the hell am I overreacting because I don't want someone else's child calling me mommy all the time?? If it were an accident, that's one thing. She does that too, as every child does, and we always just laugh it off. But she is purposely calling my mommy and I don't think that's okay. 
I am convinced so many people on this app don't actually read posts fully before responding. They skim and pick up from it what they want. I hope you fell better about yourselves, bashing someone who is already hurting. Removing what we are going through from the situation, I still don't think it's appropriate for children to get in the habit of calling anyone else other than their mother, mommy.

Accepted Answer

Maybe you shouldn’t be babysitting anymore if you can’t handle hearing her call you mama 
She’s just being silly. She knows you’re not her mom. 
She’s just being a little girl. 
I think if that’s really triggering you, which is totally okay and understandable, maybe you should stop

Answer

I think you’re over reacting a little here. I’m sorry you’re having trouble with infertility. I do think it’s clouding your logic though. The child is 4, just ignore it. Children accidentally call other people mom or dad frequently. They also think it’s funny when they realize it; if the child does it more after you say something that suggests she thinks it’s a bit funny, a game. I can’t see her mom being upsets by this either, again, she’s just four years old. It’s not serious. Ignore it when it happens.

Answer

I think you should just mention it to the mom, your friend. I understand why this would be hard for you, and why you don't know how to tell the child to stop. I don't think it's a good idea for you to tell someone else's child about miscarriage, just bc it is such a sensitive topic and kids don't understand that kind of loss. 
However, 4 years olds are more empathetic than we give them credit for. I'm not suggesting you tell the child that it makes you sad.... But maybe her mom could say something to her if she knew what was going on. 
Another suggestion would be coming up with something new for her to call you, some other fun name. You could tell her something like, "I'm not your mommy, that job is taken. Let's call me × instead" Or suggest another game if that doesn't work. 
If none of this helps and it is still really weighing on you, maybe try therapy or stop babysitting if it is affecting your mental health. Again, I am sorry that you are struggling and for your loss.

Answer

You could always try teaching them a simple nickname, with my neighbors daughter I am ya-ya, but kids mess up a lot- I used to sub kindergarten and it didn’t matter how many times I tried, I was always mrs brown- their usual teacher

Answer

Sorry, but I would just feel special this child loved me that much and felt that close to me. She's not out to get you.

Answer

Finding a new job will be the only way it will stop. 
She's small. Every one of my kids calls me mom a handful of times a day. They just do. You can correct them with your name but it won't change. They are fully aware you aren't their mom. If its a big deal then it's best to switch career paths.

Answer

She’s a small kid, they do that. It’s not gonna stop unless someone like really gets in her face aggressively about it which isn’t your place to do. If this is really harmful to you, then stop putting yourself in that situation let her parent know you can’t and find another job....

Answer

This is a phase all children go though. I’m about to graduate from psychology child development and trust me sweetheart the baby doesn’t mean to eventually she will stop calling you mommy. If it’s to hard for you. You should definitely stop babysitting the kids. Take care of your mental health. Seek for a therapist. Might help.

Answer

I think it's valid to not feel comfortable with her calling you mommy. I say talk to your friend. Her mom can express that she can be silly but calling you mommy when that isn't who you are isn't silly. That mommy is her name and no one else should be called that. She can talk to her about it without making her feel bad about it

Answer

She knows you aren't her mom. 
We read the whole thing. You are overreacting. That's just what kids do.

EDITED: How do I gently get a child to stop?

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