Manners

[GrayMatterWife]

So I am trying to teach DS to say "Yes/no, ma'am/sir." Although I grew up in the Northeast, my parents are Southern. This was always an expected thing in our home and it remains a common polite term for children to use in addressing elders in most of the South, and especially in Texas.

And DS is getting the hang of it.

Mostly.

When he forgets to add the "ma'am," I respond, "Excuse me?" and he always corrects himself.

Today, he was really trying...unprompted, he responded to a question:

"NOPE, ma'am!"

That's cute!

I wish yes, ma'am/sir were used everywhere...not just in the south! It's so polite sounding.

My kids say yes ma'am/sir. Their teachers usually comment to me about their manners.

DD2 is 3 yo and is still learning. When she has done something wrong and my DH is talking to her about it, she answers him "yes ma'am."

DD2 is 3 yo and is still learning. When she has done something wrong and my DH is talking to her about it, she answers him "yes ma'am."

That is so precious!

[Vanquisher]

I have a hard time with this, because as I have discussed before, I just don't care about formalities.

I want people to be comfortable in my home and around me and not falling all over themselves with Ma'ams and sirs.

Where I grew up, if you called someone ma'am they would be horrified! "I am not a Ma'am!" It was considered a term to be used only for the elderly, so it is not always a polite term, you should know.

Alas, we live deep in the South, and my kids do not use the terms, and I have not taught them the terms. We say ya'll, as I think it is a fantastic word, and I have a pitcher of sweet tea in my fridge, but I just can't embrace making my kids say sir or ma'am. I ask them to say please and thank you and be well behaved, but I leave it at that.

[pstone]

Yeah, we don't really go for this either.

We do please and thank you, and excuse me etc...

We don't do Mr. or Ms. grownup name either, it is just first name. Drives me nuts when parents want their kids to call me Mr. so and so. :huh:

we don't do the ma'am and sir, but we absoultely do please / thank you / pardon me, etc. that is one thing I know I've done very well with my boys - I get compliments on their manners all of the time.

Of course it's usually followed by the boys smashing one or the other into a wall, and the moment is over -- but it was there!

For the most part, I would classify our area as informal. I err on introducing people to my kids with the Mr/Mrs/Dr title and let people correct me if they would prefer to be called by their first name. If someone really wants their kids to call me Mrs, which frankly sounds a little strange, that is fine. But it might take me a second to realize the kids are talking to me.

The please/thank you/excuse me are important to me and my kids to a good job.

[peggyfromwastate]

DD (6 yo) has taken to saying,

Ay Ay Captain!

That's about as polite as we get.

DH always says ma'am and it drives me nuts. I think it is a military thing. I give him a dirty look if he calls me maam.

Not sure how I feel about kids calling me Mrs. though. Maybe if the parents insist, they can say Ms Peggy (or hey, Miss Piggy if they want, that is easier to remember).

Anyway, we do the normal niceties pretty well (please thank you you're welcome). Again, DD (the 6) will say both niceties:

Please may I have milK?

then...

Thank you. You're welcome. (She likes to say both lines)

She'se very helpful.

I'm a southern girl and don't recall my parents ever teaching me to say it, but I guess I picked it up from growing up here. Now that I'm a "grown-up" I've had to work at not saying "yes ma'am" to co-workers or "no sir" to my air conditioner repair man. I do still say it to people much older like grandparents. I don't think I'll push it with DD daughter though- as long as she is polite and respectful.

My parents are Texans, and I grew up in Virginia, so I am a ma'am/sir kind of girl. I have taught this to my children, mostly because I find it hilarious.

Lately I am teaching them to say, "Yes Ma'am, right away!" I love it! (Insert evil giggle)

[GrayMatterWife]

My parents are Texans, and I grew up in Virginia, so I am a ma'am/sir kind of girl. I have taught this to my children, mostly because I find it hilarious.

Lately I am teaching them to say, "Yes Ma'am, right away!" I love it! (Insert evil giggle)

AHHHH!! My DH thinks it is SO funny that he's taught DS to say, "Yes, sir, may I have another?" whenever he wants more cheese slices (his before-bed snack). Completely undermines my genuine attempt at manners and has resulted in at least one confused comment from a relative.

Someone is going to call CPS on us.

My parents are Texans, and I grew up in Virginia, so I am a ma'am/sir kind of girl. I have taught this to my children, mostly because I find it hilarious.

Lately I am teaching them to say, "Yes Ma'am, right away!" I love it! (Insert evil giggle)

AHHHH!! My DH thinks it is SO funny that he's taught DS to say, "Yes, sir, may I have another?" whenever he wants more cheese slices (his before-bed snack). Completely undermines my genuine attempt at manners and has resulted in at least one confused comment from a relative.

Someone is going to call CPS on us.

Now THAT is funny!

[DCJenn]

I'm trying to get the "may I please be excuse from the table" thing at the moment. Of course, this will have to be expanded to the male parental figure upon his return...

Jenn

[peggyfromwastate]

I'm trying to get the "may I please be excuse from the table" thing at the moment. Of course, this will have to be expanded to the male parental figure upon his return...

Jenn

Yeah, try to get the male counterpart to hold his friggin fork properly. (or maybe that's only my problem.)