Do/did you raise your kids to say "yes ma'am" and "yes sir?"

[caitycaity]

I hate being addressed as ma'am.

ugh - me too!

 

[SherryNC]

I think Jerry Dberg is either his stunt double or evil twin....

I didn't know he did stunts other than sit up and beg for donuts.

 

[Pete's Mom]

It's with an apostrophe... my porn name... Jerry D'berg! Have you seen my new movie?

 

[monarchsfan16]

If I ever called my grammy "ma'am" that'd probably be grounds for a slight tap with her cane. Not kidding. Here in the North, "ma'am" is extremely fresh. We call our grandparents grammy and grampa (or some variation of that). Our parents are mom and dad. I've been taught that I do need to use the word sir, but only if it's when I'm sitting on the side of the road having been pulled over by a cop I do, on occasion call a much older gentlemen sir, but its if I don't know him at all (like if someone holds a door for me I say "thank you sir"). Only the WWII vets really find it polite. But for the most part in the north, sir and ma'am are used only when being a smart aleck. It's not really polite here. I was raised to use please, thank you, you're welcome, excuse me and all of that. Even now that I'm 18 and have been told to call some of my parents' friends (by those friends) by their first name, they are still Mr or Mrs so and so (always using the last name). My aunts and uncles are Aunt and Uncle (first name). The people I babysit for always seem to want me to address them by their first names, but I find it extremely difficult to do that. My parents certainly made sure I knew manners. But here sir and ma'am are, more often than not a sign of disrespect, or a smart aleck comment. My mom hates to be called ma'am, even if it's genuine. Makes her feel old

 

[SherryNC]

 

[Feralpeg]

I think some women do not like being referred to as ma'am because it makes them feel old. I personally don't mind.

This discussion reminds me of that commercial for Wendys. "You just got ma'amed."

 

[BoyLovesBuzz]

This has been enlightening. While I never would say that not saying yes ma'am was rude, I would never have dreamt that saying it would be boarding on an insult.

 

[robinb]

I see you're from the south. We're from the north and no one around here teaches their kids to use "ma'am" and "sir". I think it's a purely regional thing and not a polite/impolite thing.

 

[jrydberg]

You've seen my work?

 

[LoraJ]

One time I was at a restaurant and I said to the waiter "Thank you sir." and he was totally offended and pretty much made that out to be a racist remark. !?!?!?

 

[BoyLovesBuzz]

I can understand opting for "Yes Please" or "No Thank You" to something like "Would you like another krispy kream" but what about when a teacher or principal calls your childs name in school, in a "getting their attention sort of way"?

 

[Pete's Mom]

I can understand opting for "Yes Please" or "No Thank You" to something like "Would you like another krispy kream" but what about when a teacher or principal calls your childs name in school, in a "getting their attention sort of way"?

See, this is where I am feeling like "yes, ma'am" and "yes, sir" are more a fear thing than a respect thing. Am I making sense?

 

[CookieGVB]

"Yes" and "No" would be fine if it did not deteriorate into "yeah", "huh?","what?", "nah", etc. All of those are inappropriate ways for a child to speak to an adult IMO.

Exactly. No ma'am or sir, but I don't tolerate yeah, huh, or what as a response to when their name is called by an adult. It's "yes" or they get an "EXCUSE me??", which usually reminds them they're not speaking with their friends.

 

[Southern4sure]

I can understand opting for "Yes Please" or "No Thank You" to something like "Would you like another krispy kream" but what about when a teacher or principal calls your childs name in school, in a "getting their attention sort of way"?

Im totally confused as how yes ma'am and etc. is related to fear. Could you please elaborate alittle more so I can try and understand why you think this?

In this scenario I'd expect my boys to reply with a sir or ma'am instead of a huh or what.

 

[jrydberg]

I'd expect my daughter to reply with "Yes?" or "Yes, Mr./Mrs./Ms/Miss [Last name]?"

Yeah, huh, what, etc. are all unacceptable alternatives.

 

[Tiggerkeeper]

We were raised ma'am and sir and so were our children. It is a Southern thang. I would never in a million years ever answered an adult without it and still do my elders.

When DS went to Marine boot he said the ONE thing he never got put in the sand pit for was not saying "SIR". LOL!!

DD is working in Colorado this summer and when she answers ma'am or sir she says people look at her as if she has three heads!! LOL!

 

[Maleficent13]

Well, apparently I am in the VAST minority, but I was born and raised in a very northern state, and my brother and I were taught "Yes/No, Ma'am" and "Yes/No, Sir". It was what we were expected to respond with when given a directive or asked for our attention by our parents or any other adult. It never caused me to fear any adults, and I do not recall any time when we used it sarcastically except with each other, when one of us would get a bit bossy ( )

I ceased using it to address adults when I became an adult. Except for Mom and Dad. They still get sir and ma'am when the occasion is appropriate.

 

[bgirldeb]

I can understand opting for "Yes Please" or "No Thank You" to something like "Would you like another krispy kream" but what about when a teacher or principal calls your childs name in school, in a "getting their attention sort of way"?

I'd expect them to answer with a simple "yes".

 

[eeyore kelly]

When I was a cub scout Leader, I expected the boys to ma'am me. I also expected the boys to use Miss.

So insted of harping on them, I called them gentlemen as a group, used Sir with and Mr. with them.

Mr. Johnny, will you go get your Scout Book? Thank you, Sir."

I was called Miss Kelly, and Ma'am was a given in out troop. I feel like modeling the behavior and giving respect helped me get it in return.

At home it is ma'am and Sir from our kids, and our kids call adult by the title and their first name.

 

[Aidensmom]

At home it is ma'am and Sir from our kids, and our kids call adult by the title and their first name.

My son often calls me Miss Mom!