Why a Mummy?

A fellow mommy brought it up a few months back and it caught my attention. Apparently, her maid had posed her the question.

It is a very good question. I did not manage to think up an answer. So I asked Viv on MSN.


Me: You know the way we refer Mother as Mummy?

Viv: Yes. Why?

Me: Aren't mummies wrapped up corpses?

*a moment's silence*

Viv: Wow... I'll never see you in the same light again. BAWHAHA...

So Viv had no answer why we were taught to spell Mummy instead of Mommy.
But I do make it a point to always spell mOmmy from then on.