Manners

kikalynne · May 2013

In talking to my SIL yesterday, I discovered that we have slightly different ideas of what constitutes good manners in children. "Please" and "Thank you", sure. Those are givens.

I was raised saying "ma'am" and "sir" and never addressing an adult by their first name. Perhaps this is a Southern thing? When I moved up to New England, the kids I watched didn't even know what "ma'am" meant. Do you plan to teach your children these kinds of phrases, or are they more regional and perhaps outdated? Just looking for another perspective.

ladybugpjb · May 2013

My parents didn't do ma'am and sir with us so much...until my dad was angry and wanted us to say "yes, sir." Selective manners, lol.

I don't know what we will do - ma'am and sir aren't a big deal to me, but I don't view it as a lack of respect. I also try to ask adults that DS is around a lot what they would like to be called. The ladies in the nursery at church mostly want to be "Miss FN," which is pretty much what I'm used to.

DS says please, thank you, bless you (for sneezes), and we're working on "no thank you" instead of "NONONONONONO!" when he doesn't want to eat something. We can sometimes get "I'm sorry," and eventually we'll work on "excuse me."

NotSharknado · May 2013

Aunts and uncles will be addressed as Aunt X and Uncle X.

Friend's parents or neighbors will be addressed as Ms. First name or Mr. First name.

Of course your basic manners.

NotSharknado · May 2013

DD has started already. When we say bless you after she sneezes she now says "Taint you". When someone else sneezes she also says "Taint you".

tandb2010 · May 2013

shanado:
Aunts and uncles will be addressed as Aunt X and Uncle X.

Friend's parents or neighbors will be addressed as Ms. First name or Mr. First name.

Of course your basic manners.

This seems to be what we are doing.

JaysonandKristin · May 2013

Please, thank you, may I... those things are tops on our lists.

Also, addressing people courteously and just in general having respect for others is our focus.

kellydw · May 2013

For us it was always Mrs. So&So or Mr.So&So, still till this day I cannot call my parents friends by their first names, no matter how old I am or how much they insist. My mom has one friend that I have called by her first name but if you knew her it would make sense and she also insists DD calls her by her first name. The rest is Mr. & Mrs. So&So.

I think its more a family thing than anything, I have a friend whos children call everyone Miss Kelly or Mr. John for example.

We have close friends that DD calls Aunt & Uncle.

Duffgurl · May 2013

JaysonandKristin:
Please, thank you, may I... those things are tops on our lists.
Also, addressing people courteously and just in general having respect for others is our focus.

Yes

kjgilhoo · May 2013

We weren't raised using Sir/Ma'am but were required to say Mr./Mrs. last name when addressing friends parents, teachers, or other adults. I find that etiquette has changed quite a bit and many adults ask to be addressed by their first name only. I think we'll play this one by ear. Teach the Mr./Ms./Mrs. but also follow others requests.

Other basic manners are a given and we're continually working on those.

BnchaNums · May 2013

Not at this age. I do teach dd that people are Mr. Walter and Ms. Kim. I say "no ma'am" to dd when I reprimand her so she occasionally says "yes ma'am,!" In a very sarcastic tone. I thought I was imagining it, but dh agrees she knows she's being funny. I will not have dd address h and I as mam and sir,