How should children address adults?

[cstraub]

One of my neighbors likes the kids in our neighborhood to call her Ms. Julie and another one of my neighbors prefers Mrs. Reynolds. Which one is better and why?
I'm not really sure which way I like to be addressed. Thoughts?

 

[powellrj]

our kids friends call us by our first names and they call their friends parents by their first names.

Or they just call them like Blakes mom, Jakes Grandma.

Most of the kids that use our names are kids with church and school.

 

[allie&mattsmom]

My kids call everyone "Mr." or "Mrs." except for my very good friends that they've known forever, they call them by their first names. I guess it wouldn't bother me if the person wanted to be called by their first name. I'd have no problem letting my child call them by what he or she wanted to be called.

 

[sweet angel]

I think they should start off addressing parents of friends as Mr. or Mrs. until they're told differently. That does not include close friends who my DS addresses by their first names.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

We are Yankees who transplanted to the South 20 years ago. The trend here seems to be addressing teachers as Mr. /Mrs., and then either using that form for adult friends, or if you want it to be a little less formal, using Miss or Mr in front of the first name. My kids refer to the neighbors as Miss "Kathy", etc. And of course, down here in the south, Mamme (is that the spelling?) is ALWAYS appropriate.

 

[HappyMommy2]

We've decided to have our kids call all adults (except for relatives of course) Mr. or Ms. or Mrs. + last name. Around here kids usually call adults (for example) Miss Jennifer or Mr. Mike--except in the schools where they do use last names--but I just don't feel very comfortable with that so we're having our kids do all last names.
I don't mind when other people's kids call me Ms. Janet but I want my own kids to get into the habit of using last names.

 

[Poohnatic]

We took a cue from our first daycare provider, everyone was Ms. or Mr. and their first name. If someone wanted us to use their last name, we'd do that, but so far, it seems most people don't mind the Ms. or Mr.

My mom's dearest friend is a woman in her 80's, and my boys call her Jeanne. They tried to call her Ms. Jeanne and she said she'd prefer if they dropped it. Back when I was their age, I'd have called her Mrs. lastname and had no choice, lol!

Suzanne

 

[Tink123]

Our rule of thumb around my house growing up and it goes for DD also... If they are family or you consider them family call them by their first name. If you know them wlll, but don't consider them family call them Ms. Sherri, and everyone else is Ms. Smith.

 

[ElizK]

We've decided to have our kids call all adults (except for relatives of course) Mr. or Ms. or Mrs. + last name. Around here kids usually call adults (for example) Miss Jennifer or Mr. Mike--except in the schools where they do use last names--but I just don't feel very comfortable with that so we're having our kids do all last names.
I don't mind when other people's kids call me Ms. Janet but I want my own kids to get into the habit of using last names.

We do this with our kids, too. A couple of my friends prefer "Miss"FirstName, rather than Mrs.Lastname. That's fine, too. I prefer children to call mr Mrs K, but am not bothered in the least to be called Miss Eliz.

 

[Beth76]

I prefer to be called by my first name. We have the Ms/Mr firstname trend going on and I don't really like it. Just prefer my name. I think kids should call adults what the adults want to be called. That said, I don't like when adults "insist" on kids calling them Mr/Mrs Lastname (except teachers). I see it as a power trip.

 

[Laurajean1014]

My son addresses any adult by their last name. We feel it is most appropriate for us.

 

[ladycollector]

I prefer to be called by my first name. We have the Ms/Mr firstname trend going on and I don't really like it. Just prefer my name. I think kids should call adults what the adults want to be called. That said, I don't like when adults "insist" on kids calling them Mr/Mrs Lastname (except teachers). I see it as a power trip.

I do too. I also think when kids get older (teenager age) that it's fine to call their friends parent's by their first name.

 

[Daxx]

DS calls his pals parents by their last names (ie: Mr. and Mrs. Jones). Same w/teachers.

When we introduced DS to our neighbors, we said "this is Mr. and Mrs. Smith" and they said "oh, don't be so formal, call us "Mrs. Luanne and Mr. Marty". So, DS does. In turn, their kids call us "Mr. Mike and Mrs. Susan". Although, they call me Miss Susan (why, I don't know ... but my Kdg. kids and other students in the school often call me Miss W.).

I prefer to introduce my child to someone on a more formal level (Mrs. Doe) ... if the adult wants my child to call them something else, then they can take that opportunity to say that they'd prefer to be called "Mrs. Joan".

In my school, as I have mentioned, many drop the Mrs. and call me either Ms. W. or Miss W (not using initial, but my full last name). I don't know why. I don't correct them b/c at least they're not calling me "Yo, beotch". We do have two teachers who go by Miss First Name. That is their prerogative and do so b/c both have tricky last names. If I had a tricky last name, I think I'd prefer to be called Mrs. Last Initial - like someone named Mrs. Xerchelowchsopolousko (totally made up name) could be called Mrs. X.

Warmly, Daxx's Wife

 

[Rachie0507]

I prefer to be called by my first name. All my daycare kids and my children's friends have always done it that way. My kids call all my friends by their first name except for one, who prefers to be called Miss Elaine. Her kids call me Miss Rachel too!! I would never tell them not to because I know that is what they have been taught. Now that my kids are going into school, they are getting used to calling adults by Mrs/Mr. Last Name. We tried calling friends Aunt/Uncle but it never caught on. I'm sure it is a regional thing and we are pretty casual around here. I like it that way. I hate being called Mrs. Lastname. It makes me feel old!!!

 

[yeartolate]

If the child calls me by my first name and shows me respect as an adult/authority figure - my first name is fine.


Calling me "Mrs. xxxxx" does not indicate respect, their actions do.

That being said, most of my son's friends start off by calling me by my surname, but I give permisson for them to call me by my first.

 

[DVCLiz]

I always called my parents' friends Mr. and Mrs., and my daughters use that as well unless the person is a close family friend, in which case it's first name.

I was 40 years old before one of my mother's friends said, "Now that you're 40, I think it's time you call me Anne instead of Mrs. X." Then there was an awkward time when I got used to calling her by her first name, then another period of time when I had to figure out a way around Anne and Mr. X. Eventually I got used to calling them both by their first names!!!! It was very hard to do with all those years of ma'am and sir behind me, and I still use that if I don't know someone well.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

at least they're not calling me "Yo, beotch".

This is hysterically funny, and extremely sad both at the same time.....

 

[Dcat2u]

My kids call adults or friends Mr. or Mrs. unless told to call them by their first names and then they still will normally say Mr. Matt or Ms. Sara.

 

[DVCLiz]

When I was a Children's Librarian I was Miss Liz to the children and most of their parents as well. I have grown men in this town who call me Miss Liz when I see them at a restaurant!!!! Without their children!!!!!

 

[Sparx]

Mamme (is that the spelling?) is ALWAYS appropriate.

ma'am (I'm southern too. )
It is usually Mr last name, Ms first name now that I think about it. not really sure why. I've never been corrected, so I guess I am doing fine. I always call teachers however they introduce themselves to me Mrs/Mr/first/last whatever. Except band, I called my band director by his last name, he never thought anything of it.
I don't think that Mr/Ms/Miss/Mrs shows respect, I think how you treat them shows respect. So I just call them whatever they want me to.
My best friends grandma(who she lives with) I have known my whole life, so I just call her June, instead of Ms last name or whatever.