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When I was growing up, I was taught to address adults as "Mr. Jones" or "Mrs. Smith." But this is certainly no longer the case, at least not where I live (Maryland). Children now address adults (at least ones they have some kind of relationship with, such as the friends of their parents or the parents of their friends) as "Mr. John" or "Miss Jane." And while I can't even begin to fathom addressing the adults from my childhood by their first names, oddly enough it actually seems strange to me for a kid to call me by my last name!
So how is it done where you live? And do you like it, dislike it, or don't care either way?
When I was growing up, I was taught to address adults as "Mr. Jones" or "Mrs. Smith."
That is how it is around my area.
Thank God that Miss FirstName stuff has not caught on here! If you can learn/say my first name, you can just as easily learn/say my last.
I grew up in Europe and I addressed people by Mr. & Mrs with surname.How things have changed now it is eh or hi or by first name. But in my husbands culture they still address us as uncle and auntie even if we are not related. I guess I am old fashioned and I like the respect they give to us.
When I was growing up, I was taught to address adults as "Mr. Jones" or "Mrs. Smith." But this is certainly no longer the case, at least not where I live (Maryland). Children now address adults (at least ones they have some kind of relationship with, such as the friends of their parents or the parents of their friends) as "Mr. John" or "Miss Jane." And while I can't even begin to fathom addressing the adults from my childhood by their first names, oddly enough it actually seems strange to me for a kid to call me by my last name!
So how is it done where you live? And do you like it, dislike it, or don't care either way?
The few young kids I'm acquainted with, those of my friend who is in his 30s, refer to me as "Uncle (my first name)". Nothing more, nothing less. Actually, my others buddy's kids, now 19 and 21 or thereabouts, say the same still. I like that just fine thanks.
I am Gen X and referred to my dad and mom's friends as "Mr. (Smith)," "Mrs. (Jones)", etc. My old man, and mom for that matter, gave me the worst of it if I ever did differently. I didn't have to refer to them all as sir or ma'am, though IMO that sure isn't a bad idea either.
Kids need structure and to understand respect. And have room to run to express themselves, too, but within boundaries. End of story. I won't tolerate smart(aleck) remarks from some kid in my presence, as in "ever" directed my way without getting on it immediately. That seldom happens, even kids understand smarting off to a tall, large, generally stern man like Uncle Blondebaerde isn't the smartest idea.
That's the point, right? Appropriate respect for authority, while not running the place like a police state. Boundaries, people.
Usually by first name. It doesn't bother me, as people tend to be casual and informal in my neck of the woods.
Same here! My ex was a Sunday school teacher and was always known as "Miss Jane". The three youngsters next door make my day when they run across their back yard waving and saying "Hi, John!" (of course not my real name). Don't think a thing about it.
In the south it's Miss First name, or Mr. First name.
In WA it's by first names, which I LOATHE. I do not want some 3 year old calling me by my first name, it seems disrespectful to me.
Yeah, a lot in WA is inappropriately casual or weird. I call it home, though, and take the good with the ill (the latter including our far left Seattle city council...but I digress).
I find it amusing and a bit confrontational to, on rare occasion, correct children here in WA that pull what you describe, and similar. Really, it's OK to do so. And yes, it's worth your energy and attention, too. Respect, boundaries, etc.
Said m'piece, now twice on this thread. Someone has to set an example for young people; that would mostly be "us" (the adults in the room, on this forum, probably Gen Y, X, and Boomers mostly).
Growing up in the 60s and 70s in Indiana, we always addressed adults as Mr. or Mrs. Last name. When I raised my children, in the 90s, I required that they address adults the same way I had been taught. But it wasn't as prevalent by then. A lot of adults would make comments about how polite my children were, as many other children called them by first name only.
I would think children anywhere in the US would still call teachers by Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms last name. Or for a complicated last name, in very early grades, perhaps a shortened version. One of my sons had a 2nd grade teacher names Mrs. Buffenbarger. At "Meet the Teacher" night, she said some children have a really hard time with her last name. When the name was being mangled by some students as "Barfenburger," she decided to go by "Mrs. Buff!" And I have a cousin, who is a kindergarten teacher, with a killer long Polish last name. She is addressed simply as Miss G.
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