Parents get roasted by kids in new game called 'Babes' inspired by their daily habit: 'My son will...'

The kids had invented a new game that subtly mocks the mom and dad's way of talking to each other.

PUBLISHED AUG 2, 2025

Representative image of a young family with two little children preparing breakfast (Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Halfpoint Images)

Toddlers are smart, and their rapidly developing brains observe and absorb everything they see around them. While parents get busy in the mundanity of life, they often fail to realize that their toddlers are watching every step of the way. This was best put into perspective by a North Carolina dad of two who was caught off guard by his kids playing a new game of impersonation. Scott Reintgen (@reintgen) shared a viral post on Threads narrating how his two toddlers invented a game called “Babes” that involved them mimicking their parents in everyday life and calling each other by pet names.

Children playing with blocks at home. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images|Westend61)

Reintgen, a father of two and a children’s book author, did not expect his 3-year-old and 5-year-old to replay the conversations between him and his wife Katie. He was unintentionally called out on his act of repeatedly referring to his wife as “babe.” In the viral post with 7,100 hearts, the dad wrote, “My son will go around saying, 'Hey, babe. You need anything, babe? You good, babe?” While my daughter goes, 'I’m good, babe. Maybe some chocolate, babe?'” Fairly offended by the game, Reintgen confessed, “I wasn’t prepared to be impersonated this aggressively.”

A dad's post about the adorable yet witty 'Babes' game that his kids play. (Cover Image Source: Threads | @reintgen)

The quirky game had popped up during the summer as the family spent more time together. In an interview with Newsweek, the dad revealed, “Our ears would always perk up to try and hear what they were saying about us.” He reflected on it as a “situation” where someone else brings their use of regular words to notice. “Ever since discovering the game, we've caught ourselves calling each other babe with an embarrassing regularity,” Reintgen said. While he realizes the true intention of his playful toddlers, their new game helped shape a new perspective in his mind.

(Image Source: Threads | @kristingriffinartwork)

Reingten has a significant presence among children. He speaks across schools in the country, and his bestselling children’s book is read by a large young audience. Hence, he is no stranger to the influence words may have on the little ones. Yet, his kids caught him red-handed in a purely candid moment with his wife and impersonated them in their game of "Babes". "I've spent years crafting what I want to say in those spaces, because what we say and how we say it matters. Which is why it's funny to me that my kids are using 'babes' to mimic the exchanges that my wife and I don't think much about,” he explained. However, he is content that the toddlers echo the “positive vibes” rather than picking up other words to mimic.

Dad falls asleep and the children get out the make up box. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images|sturti)

Although it turns out that most fellow parents have walked into a similar situation with their toddlers. @leslieschinto shared, “This reminds me of the day my four-year-old suddenly shouted 'Babe!' in precisely my volume and tone, trying to hurry her father into the car for their weekend outing. Babe!” Likewise, @iam3v1lj3nn1supported, “They see and hear everything, and all of the information is ammunition!” “My two-year-old has started saying, ‘You okay, babe?’ because my husband and I say it so much to each other,” wrote @bianca_ann.