izzybelle Posted November 10, 2004 Posted November 10, 2004 this may seem like a tirvial question, but i hope i can get some insight. i don't know if it's just the area that i live in or if this is a social standard, but i just always feel odd when my kid's friends refer to me as "mrs. ...." it's usually at, what seems like, the insistence of their parents that they stick to this formality. the parents always say, "go ask mrs. ..." or whatever. i'm divorced and lately i've even been noticing the parents getting stuck on the mrs. part and they're not sure where to go with it from there. i have no problem with these kids calling me by my first name and a few of my daughter's friends used to do that but then hearing their parents add the "mrs." to it, they've gone back to being formal. short of talking to all of the parents, which would include my daughter's many friends, my son's soccer team and all of his other friends.... i guess what i'm asking would any of you be offended if a parent said to your child "you can call me..." ? i'm not much for formality, anyway, but i know even growing up that was the polite way to address an adult. thanks!!
RowanRavyn Posted November 10, 2004 Posted November 10, 2004 I insist that my children call people by a title and last name: Mrs. Smith Until such a time as that person gives them permission to call them something else. Its a respect thing for me. Also even with older women I have a tendancy to call them Miss..and their first name.
Moose Posted November 10, 2004 Posted November 10, 2004 My kids use, Miss and Mr then the first name, "Miss Carole", "Mr. Moose".
tiki Posted November 10, 2004 Posted November 10, 2004 My child uses Miss first name. I think it's a respect thing. I'm okay with it either way, as long as it's consistent with what she is called and what she prefers. My fiance is from another place than me and he INSISTS on saying Aunt X and Uncle X. I've never done that really, unless I was taught to and heard the person called that. But they do it out of respect and he doesn't like to hear it any other way. I think it's an authorative figure respect kind of thing. Let em call you that, you're not their 'bud', you're an authoritative figure.
HokeyReligions Posted November 10, 2004 Posted November 10, 2004 Originally posted by RowanRavyn I insist that my children call people by a title and last name: Mrs. Smith Until such a time as that person gives them permission to call them something else. Its a respect thing for me. Also even with older women I have a tendancy to call them Miss..and their first name. I'm with RR on this one. My kids addressed adults by Ms. or Mr. [last name] unless the person said to use their first name. Then it was Ms. or Mr. [first name]. The neighbor kids call me Ms. first name I appreciate the respect. Its funny though, the neighbor kids who are 18+ sill use the Ms. or Mr. when addressing us, and I work with people of the same age who do not use the Ms. or Mr. I guess context is important too! I also refer to older people with respect, unless they ask me to just use their first name.
tiki Posted November 10, 2004 Posted November 10, 2004 And I always say yes sir and yes ma'am until asked to not. Then I do it more.
RowanRavyn Posted November 10, 2004 Posted November 10, 2004 Me too!! LOL I actually love throwing younger people off by saying yes sir and yea m'am to them.
Artifact Posted November 10, 2004 Posted November 10, 2004 I don't have kids, but at 24 I get addressed as Miss. X. My soon to be nephew and niece do call me by my first name, but that was how I was introduced, and I don't think they even know my last name! And I find it hard to call my (again, soon to be) mother in law by her first name, even though she has asked me to. It's a little strange! This goes for my friend's parents too. I use Miss/Mrs or Mr.
BlueLP Posted November 10, 2004 Posted November 10, 2004 I've found some regional differences when talking to my friends about our childhood experiences. Some of them from the south will address adult women as "Miss <first name" whereas back in the midwest it seemed like most kids just use the standard Mrs./Mr. <last name>. Different norms.
meanon Posted November 10, 2004 Posted November 10, 2004 It must vary from place to place. Where I live, kids only use titles of teachers. Everyone else is on first name terms. I'm sure it wouldn't cause offence if you gave them permission to call you by your first name.
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