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This is a little off topic. There was a period when my eldest daughter started calling me by my first name- It really irritated me and she knew it...so you ask- how did I put a stop to it? Well...Every time she would use my name I would call her "Mummy" -she soon shut up..and went back to "dad" -
This is a little off topic. There was a period when my eldest daughter started calling me by my first name- It really irritated me and she knew it...so you ask- how did I put a stop to it? Well...Every time she would use my name I would call her "Mummy" -she soon shut up..and went back to "dad" -
Ooooo my parents would have shut that down REAL QUICK! Addressing your parents by their first name is disrespectful as it is but if she did it intentionally knowing that it irritated you oh that would have been an automatic a$$kicking in my house haha (but seriously)
I'm 20 years old but wasn't made to say those words. I don't see the point. Older people are just people, as are younger people. 10, 20, 40, 50, 70... we're all humans.
That's true sir we are all humans but there's a certain way you address different people. You don't address a 70 year old the same way you would address someone your age. But you were obviously raised differently than myself so I'm gonna leave that alone....
If it is someone the kids don't know, then yes. My daughter isn't so formal quite yet, but the boys are. We have a large old population here, and it's the way it is. Farm/ranch country.
I know a couple who makes their kids do that. Everything is "yes, sir," and "no, ma'am." Then the kids DO things that would qualify as badly behaved in anyone's book and these parents who are constantly monitoring the way the kids speak don't correct them. Come to think of it, the parents themselves are rather thoughtless and rude. They all sound really fancy, though.
One thing that hasn't been mentioned is military families. Oftentimes saying "ma'am" and "sir" are used by those who were raised in a household where one or both parents were in the military. My husband is one such person. He always says "sir" to men he doesn't know. The older men really appreciate it. He uses "miss" now because he knows most women don't like "ma'am."
We've discussed this with regard to children and have agreed to Mr. or Mrs. "first name" until they become adults. I'll teach that "sir" and "miss" are appropriate for certain situations, but that's about it.
But respect doesn't automatically occur with the use of these terms. FWIW, I never used "Mr." or "Mrs." or "ma'am" or "sir" and even answered with "what" throughout my childhood but always gave my elders respect outside of these terms. I always showed respect in spite of not using certain words. However, now with social media, I think it's very important to teach children some respectful terms because in-person social interactions are more limited than in the past, and today's youth's behaviors mimic their "instagram, text message, tweet" culture.
Why can't those who say they do not teach their kids to say sir or ma'am resist tossing a pejorative "robotic kids" or Eddie Haskell comment?
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