Children Addressing Adults

[Sade]

When I was growing up it was all about respect. Any grown person was addressed as Ms. Johnson or Mr. Wilson. None of this 1st name stuff. Wha the hell?

It appears that people today are alot less formal. Batgirl knows all of our neighbors by their 1st name but there's always a Ms. or Mr. in front of it. The only person she calls by name is Rudy & that's only because he prefers it, plus Mr. Rudy is his dad. Crazy thing is, all my neighbors think it's so strange that we've taught her to address them as such while their kids call both Mr. Sinful & I by our 1st names. They are quick to say how polite & well mannered she is. Then why the hell didn't you teach your kids the same? It's a lil late in the game now.

I don't have a prob with the kids calling me by name. As long as they respect me as an adult then it's cool.

How were you taught to address adults? And how are you teaching your children? Just curious because this is no new trend. It's been going on for a minute at least that I've seen.

[charliekilothree]

We were taught to call adults Mr. or Mrs./Miss. We were not required to say yes or no sir/ma'am like my Mother and her siblings were.

[Cheese Biscuit]

We were always taught to address grown ups as Miss Mary (or Mrs Johnson), Mr Eric (or Mr Johnson). At the age of fifty, I still find myself saying Miss Mary etc.


Since I spend more time with my two grand nieces and their brother, I'll use them as an example. They have been taught to address females as Miss (first name) or Miss (last name). Males are addressed as Mr (first or last name).

I cannot stand it when parents and guardians allow their children to call me by my first name. At my age, I'm not considered their peer nor am I considered their contemporary. If a child asks me my name, I'll tell them Ms/Miss_______.


BTW, good topic of discussion.

[Blak]

It was Mr this and Mrs that.....none of that sir/maam stuff. That is how I will teach my kids.....call adults Mr and Mrs. so-and-so.

Blak

[naskiecenye]

yeah ur right i teach my children this

[saraphen]

Always Mr. & Mrs., and my kids do the same. My Sunday School class calls me Mrs. except for a few that I'm close with their parents, call me Ms. Sarah.

I remember when I was a kid, I never even knew my teachers' first names, and if I ever heard the name, we would always look at each other puzzled and say, "Lizzie?" (or whatever the name was) It seemed so strange that adults even had a first name.

[therealisticlady]

Here I go as the oddball again. Although I grew up having to call everyone Mr or Miss, I dont teach my kids the same. I dont think that every adult now days deserves that same type of respect that we learned as children. After all we live in different times now. I do have several aquaintances that they do call Mr or Miss but not alot.

I personally dont think it is disrespectful for children to call me by my first name. As long as in every other way they behave and are respectful, I dont see the harm.

Just in case you are wondering, no the princesses do not call me anything other than Mom, mother, or Momma.

[goodcookinmama]

if we even thought about calling anyadult by there first name we whould have got it big time it is some thing that i have instilled in my kids and outher poeple now a days just dont care enough to take the time to teach there kids any values or respect towards
any one i am quick to put them in check

[Chelbe]

As a whole, some parents are dropping the ball. Im not sure exactly where, but some people dont have their priorities in order and in general some children seem to have less to no respect for elders. My aunt is 57, we have some slick little boys next door that were saying little slick sh.. and I had to let them know that she is not to be played with and if they had a problem with it to tell their mothers, fathers or both to come see me. Its one thing to disrespect me, but dont go there with auntie.
Now with that being said, I call her by her first name because thats what Ive been calling her my whole life and she doesnt see it as disrespect, everybody calls her by her first name. I don't feel that measures my level of respect for her though and I dont call her out of her name, so I am fine. Way back, I've been questioned by other adults though, they ask me why I call her by her first name and I say because that is her name, no disrespect.
When I have my own kids, do I want them calling me by my first name? No, and I wouldnt let them make a habit of doing so, but growing up around here we were very untraditional as far as that was concerned. As long as we stayed in our place and didnt get froggy, our butts were spared.
To this day I respect all elders to a certain degree, although I feel I'm being bullied by a elderly lady on my job, but that is a whole different story...

[Cheese Biscuit]

Originally Posted by Chelbe

To this day I respect all elders to a certain degree, although I feel I'm being bullied by a elderly lady on my job, but that is a whole different story...

Chelbe, do you intend to start a thread about the elderly lady on your job or can you add the words Off Topic and discuss it here? I'm nosey!