Mister and Miss [First Name] (teaching, parents, son, 10 years old)

[Kippy]

I have seen a growing trend of parents teaching their children to address other adults as Miss or Mister followed by the adult's first name. To my ears, this sounds strange, and makes me feel like I am in the antebellum South.

When I grew up, I addressed my friends' parents as Mr. and Mrs. followed by their last name. There were a few exceptions, as a few parents preferred to be called by their first name, but without a title.

I understand that the idea of Ms. and Mr. First Name is to compromise the idea of giving the adult a title, out I respect, but to also be somewhat casual and use one's first name. While the concept sounds good in on paper, hearing it in practice just sounds weird to me.

What do your kids call their friends' parents? What do you prefer to be addressed as by your kids' friends?

[groar]

i think it's cute!

i've only ever noticed african american kids (and a few caucasian kids who hang out with a lot of african american kids) doing it.

there are definitely some older women in my neighborhood who everyone addresses that way.

[Hopes]

Miss annoys me too. I'm not single. I'm not young.

My children were raised to say Mr. and Mrs., unless the people told them to be called something else. First names are common among close relationships. Mr. and Mrs. are often used for people in positions of authorty, aquaintences and strangers.

Other people's kids call me whatever they were taught. Some call me by my first name. Some call me Mrs. X. I don't care. Poor hubby gets called Mr. Wrong Last Name all the time because he has a different last name from me and the children. He doesn't care, never corrects anyone, but going by his first name sort of solves that problem so many kids who are aquaintences or look up to him as an authority figure call him Mr. First Name, due to sheer simplicity of the complication of our family having different last names, not because they are being southern.

[EveKendall]

I haven't heard observed this trend myself but I like it. Actually, several of my friends allow their children to address them (the parents) by their first names, which I really don't like. And I am talking about young children, not adults.

[robrobrob]

With my kids ages, 5 and 4, we use Mister ________ and Miss __________. I think it is because first names are easier to pronounce. I would imagine that we will change as they get older.

Years ago, I corrected a young African American male client for calling the Judge "Miss _____". The judge told me that is was a respecfully greating in the African American community. I had no idea.

[hinsey86]

I grew up with it...completely normal and totally respectful.

[cheezit34141988]

I grew up addressing adults by Title Last Name, Mr Smith, etc.

I'm 23 years old and still call my girlfriends parents Mr/Mrs __________ because they havent told me to call them by their first names.

Just a sign of respect I guess...idk.

I dont see it as an issue, using first names though.

[Reach4Top]

Mr Jones and Mrs Jones both with out kids and their friends addressing us. Some kids still call me Coach Bob from the days of baseball or basketball which is fine.

Also, once the friends hit college, I tell them all we can go to first name. I'm old but not that old!

[CaptainPittsburgh]

I did an internship at a...place, haha, in college where I spent a lot of time with children under 10 years old, and they all did this. The community that this place serviced is affluent and predominately Caucasian, so I think it must be a pretty wide-spread phenomenon at this point.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by dtrtrggr13

I'm 23 years old and still call my girlfriends parents Mr/Mrs __________ because they havent told me to call them by their first names.

I was taught Mr. and Mrs. too. I called a boyfriend's father Mr. and he flipped out on me because I didn't use Dr.

Well, it wasn't my fault his son didn't mention that his father was a doctor.

That was my first clue that family had serious issues...