Am I the only one bothered by this?

[Microcell]

I was looking at another thread and I got to thinking about manners and I wondered if I am alone in this:

We have neighbor children who are nice, and most of the time not terribly argumentative (they do argue about why our DD should be allowed to play with them etc.. we don't allow that), but their parents are obviously just fine with having their children call us by our first names. That bugs DH and I. Not enough to have bad relations with the neighbors, but nonetheless. We always have our kids use Mr or Mrs or Ms and their last names. We see it as a sign of respect. I just wonder if we are in the minority?

 

[Lisa L from MI]

I truthfully prefer to be called by my first name by my kids (age 11 and 8) friends...I even don't care to be called "Miss Lisa" as some do....but I always tell them Lisa is fine.....

Sometimes my kids call me Lisa.....when I don't answer "mom" a couple times!

 

[txSleepingBeauty]

nope, that would drive me nuts!! I'm 26 yrs old and STILL call people mr, ms etc....drove me crazy whilst working at the MK too, we HAVE to call guests by their names, preferably first names. I refused and called anyone that wasn't CLEARLY yopunger than me by their last names...it's just disrespectful...although we did call close friends/neighbors by Mr A or Ms B....

on another note, kids not using Aunt/Uncle bugs me too

 

[MAC3]

I was raised with calling others Mr & Mrs_______ but I am guilty of introducing everyone to my DD on a first name basis. I guess it's because I'm introducing them as I know them.

I know others see it as disrespectful but it was how I taught my DD and she is a very respectful child. So my fault.

BTW I prefer her friends to call me by my first name, I don't know why though.

 

[binny]

I usually ask my friends what they prefer but for neighbours I always have my kids say Ms Kim or Mr John unless they ask for something different.

I think its a matter of respect as well and I even correct kids on the neighbourhood who call me by my first name.

 

[MikeB63]

I agree with you. When I was hired for my first job out of college, I had the hardest time calling my boss by his first name. It just didn't seem right. It is a matter of respect, but unfortunately respect in our society is almost non-existent.

 

[RadioNate]

I'm the opposite - I hate to be called Mrs. X

We have friends that want their children to call adults Mr/Mrs so and so. I'm always asking their kids to please call me Alison.

We introduce our friends to our son by their first names. I don't think it's disrespectful at all. Now we do introduce Dh's boss and people who aren't close friends as Mr or Mrs.

I will want my DS's friends to call me by my first name.

 

[Rozzie]

I still call my friend's parents (over 20 yrs) by MR AND MRS--
This would freak me out to hear children calling adults by their first names, I don't have children, so I guess I can't comment too much.
Some of my friends kids call me "Ms. Robyn" which is ok, but I could never call other adults by this. I guess my grandfather was ultra strict with us. We would have problems if he heard us say "yes" or "no" without a mam or sir attached. to this day, everyone, everyone every age is mam or sir.....I can't get away from it!

 

[worm761]

i have taught my DS to say Mr or Miss (first name). it is the respectful thing to do. i grew up that way. there are a very few close friends that he calls only by their first name. but that is by the adults choice. not mine.

 

[inaminute]

I always introduced others to my children as Mr., Mrs., Ms. "FillinLastName." I left it up to the adult to decide whether they wanted to be called by their first name. Most did. Some didn't.

I personally prefer my first name. "Mrs. XXXX" just sounds so old (it reminds me of my mother-in-law)!

 

[DawnCt1]

My youngest DS has a couple of friends that have made that mistake. They are teens and should know better. I politely say, Mrs. (last name) would be better.

 

[Microcell]

Wide variety! With close friends I let my kids call them Aunt or Uncle ______ because we have Thanksgiving together and are often at each others houses.

 

[browneyes]

Almost all my neighbors are relatives of my children, so no, it doesn't bother me if they call me by name. Growing up, I called all my neighbors by their names too. A couple of them would get insulted if I called them Mr. and Mrs. Whatevertheirlastnameis.

My nieces and nephews call me Aunt Shannon, so I call them Niece Name or Nephew Name. I don't require my kids to call their aunts and uncles by titles because I never had to. Although, my SO's nieces and nephews have 2 aunt Shannons. I prefer them to call me "hey you" if they want my attention and the other Shannon is around.

 

[Serena]

What neighbor kids we have call me Mrs. ___ . I'm not a Mrs. anymore, but it's not worth the hassle correcting them. I rarely see them anyway.

My girls's friends usually call me mom.

 

[WDWHound]

My wife and I prefer to be addressed as Mr. and Mrs. by children. It is a an indication of respect. Children address each other by first name, and the use of the title indicates that adults are due more respect. This is why nearly all teachers still insist on the use of titles by children. I find it disrespectful when a child calls me by my first name without myt permission.

That said, I believe people should be addressed the way they want to be. If an adult wants a child to address them by their first name, thats fine. In my case I usually prefer they don't. I believe a parent should ask you how you wish to be addressed by their childen and then instruct their children on how to address you. I don't beleive the parent should make this choice on their own.

 

[Winka]

I like first-names in a lot of casual cases but regardless of our own preferences, I do wish people would respect the titles or names people prefer to have used for themselves.

Would it be too out-of-bounds to pleasantly ask the kids that they refer to you as Mrs. "Microcell"?

 

[Microcell]

Originally posted by WDWHound
My wife and I prefer to be addressed as Mr. and Mrs. by children. It is a an indication of respect. Children address each other by first name, and the use of the title indicates that adults are due more respect. This is why nearly all teachers still insist on the use of titles by children. I find it disrespectful when a child calls me by my first name without myt permission.

That said, I believe people should be addressed the way they want to be. If an adult wants a child to address them by their first name, thats fine. In my case I usually prefer they don't. I believe a parent should ask you how you wish to be addressed by their childen and then instruct their children on how to address you. I don't beleive the parent should make this choice on their own.

I agree with you completely, I just couldn't say it as well!!

 

[Patio]

I always address people as Mr or Mrs_________. I expect my kids to do the same. I also like to be addressed as Mrs. _______ by their friends. Just yesterday, we took one of DS's teammates to their ball game. When we got out of the car, DS's friend said to me, " Patty, can you hold my money?" It was the second time he did this and it bothered me a little. I didn't correct him though as I didn't want to embarass him.

 

[SandraM]

Originally posted by WDWHound
My wife and I prefer to be addressed as Mr. and Mrs. by children. It is a an indication of respect. Children address each other by first name, and the use of the title indicates that adults are due more respect. This is why nearly all teachers still insist on the use of titles by children. I find it disrespectful when a child calls me by my first name without myt permission.

I'm just wondering why children are apparently not due as much respect as adults?

Personally I think one's behaviour is what determines whether one should be accorded respect or not, and for me that goes for adults or children. I don't think a child calling me by my first name shows a lack of respect.

 

[PooohBear]

I think it is preference thing...... I always ask the neighbor kids and my kids friends to call me by my first name.....I ask the adults I know how they prefer to be called by my kids so nobody feels insulted.