Comments on: Formal Babe Mouths

By: Two Thousand and Seven: A Review: PhilosYphia

Two Thousand and Seven: A Review: PhilosYphia — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:42:04 +0000

[...] was a slower month, starting out talking about how kids address adults, then moving on for a picture-fest of the Clintons, Latham, and a bunny on parade. I then entered a [...]

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 01:20:15 +0000

I agree this is difficult, we are coming to an age in Logan (3 and a half) where he is starting to remember people on a long term basis — our close friends that he sees all the time he just calls them by their first names. His teachers he calls Miss, or Mr. —
The biggest challenge for us is his Godparents — we don’t see them enough right now where he knows them VERY well, but do we call them Uncle or Aunt? Godmom, or Godmother? Or just use their first name?

I think at this point, having him remember to say please, thank you, excuse me, things like that are bigger issues. But it will come and whatever feels the most comfortable will be what you will go with. But be prepared to have your name changed to _____’s dad.

By: Dixie

Dixie — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 19:16:03 +0000

It is very hard for me being married to someone from the north. In the south, we call everyone Mr. or Mrs. if they are older (and it doesn’t have to be by much). I also grew up calling close family friends Aunt and Uncle, which confuses my children a lot. I like the sentiment (being able to choose “family” members). My girls call my best friend Aunt Paula and another Aunt Tammy. THey are just now finding out that they aren’t REALLY related.

When I owned my school, the children called all the teachers by their first names, but added MS. or Mr. to the front. I always liked that, and never understood having to call a teacher by their last name. Respect, in my humble opinion, is earned not at title.

In Sweden, no one is called Mr. or Mrs. (Even bosses are called by their given first names.) My eight year old calls her teacher by her first name. It doesn’t make her respect her teacher any less, it’s just a little weird for mom.

Whatever you allow your children to call people in their lives, in the end, doesn’t matter as much as the love that is shown to them. You guys will be GREAT parents. Sit back and enjoy the ride, just remember it can be quite bumpy…wear a seatbelt!

By: Marie

Marie — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 22:27:45 +0000

I still call my friend’s parents Mr. or Mrs. and my mom and
dad’s siblings are aunt and uncle, no matter how old I get.
I was raised to not address adults by
their first names and when I started work at 14 I had a hard time
calling my bosses by their first names It was awkward.
My mom gets irate when she hears children calling adults by their
first names I think it is disrespectful and too casual. Now if the
adult tells the kid what to call him or her, that’s fine but
manners come first.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 17:58:50 +0000

Teaching children to respect and honor their extended family will give them a distinct advantage as young adults in a society that often lacks respect!

By: Evette

Evette — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 12:43:15 +0000

Hi! I found you through Courtney as she mentioned you helped her out…and I’m nosey! But your post intrigued me.
I was brought up to call close friends Aunt and Uncle…the strange bit was I never knew my parents family till I was much older
mainly as we lived in Canada and they lived in England. But I agree…When I have kids it will be Auntie and Uncle and Mr. and Miss, Mrs. and Sir!

Possibly old fashioned I know but I think it’s great. I love it when my friends have their kids call me auntie…it lets me know i’m close to them. I was never confused when I was a kid about who my family were and who were good friends.

Thanks for helping Courtney out!

By: Bec

Bec — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 22:38:33 +0000

Think we had this conversation when you guys were over, but yes, titles were titles are due, Auntie and Uncles for Aunties and Uncles and all adults be called Mr, Mrs, Miss unless that adult, Dad or me otherwise tells you so. And old habits die hard I can tell you. I still find myself calling my old teachers Mrs and Mr even after numerous times of them telling me to use their first name. My daughter is now getting tutored by my old principle and when ever I see him I still call him Mr Slater. But it definitely never hurt me and it taught me right from the start about respecting my elders and where everyone’s place is.

But saying that everyone is different, I have friends who get their children to call me Auntie Bec. I don’t jump down their throat and disagree, its a parents choice, and on the occasion my kids have picked up on it, when we leave I explain about this subject, so their is no confusion.

Anyway that’s my view, out of the millions out there

By: Courtney

Courtney — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 21:54:45 +0000

I got to play “Auntie Courtney” all weekend to my favorite non-related baby. He’s my best friend’s son and I’m Auntie while my husband is Uncle Derek. I think it’s neat because it shows that I’m important and that I might as well be considered family. I’ll do the same thing when we have children.

Respect for other adults is something that I also will be very big on when we have children. It’s hard to find something that bothers me more than disrepect.