How should children address adults?

[Lisa AF]

We've taught our children that it is Mr. or Mrs. last name unless the adult tells them to call them something different.

I don't care what the kids call me. I don't feel respect comes from how someone addresses me.

 

[sleepyone]

Mr. or Ms. "Last name". My kids must also, say Ma'am or Sir to adults.

 

[Disney Ella]

My kids call our friends by their first names. Other adults (parents of kids they know from school, etc.) they call Mr. or Mrs. Lastname. I don't want to be called Mrs. and hate being called Miss Ella. Either keep it formal or informal, don't mix the two.

 

[Talking Hands]

Start off addressing adults as Mr, Mrs, or Ms ___________ until told otherwise. My students in my ASL class call me Ms Lisa or Lisa depending on age. ( I have a class that is mixed with adults and children) My children's friends call me Mrs Crawford or Mamacita. At school I am Miss or Ms Crawford. Among my deaf friends I am not addressed by name as is normal with this but I do have a name sign that is uniquely mine.

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

I vote for whatever the adult is comfortable with, and "Mr/Mrs lastname" if they don't know. It seems like generally if a kid calls someone Mrs. Smith, and that's not what they want to be called, they'll say "Oh, call me Jane".

 

[Keli]

I've always preferred my dd's friends to call me Mrs. LastName. I don't know why really except that's what I called my friend's parents and that's what feels right to me. But often they've called me Ms. Keli and that's fine too, one friend calls me "Aunt Keli", lol. I don't like it when they just call me Keli though, some sort of title before my name seems appropriate to me.

And funny enough, I REALLY don't like Ashli's bf's to call me by my first name only even though a lot them I saw every day. I know that one day she'll marry one of these bf's and then I'll want them to call me Mom but in the mean time I like a little formality because I want them to have respect for my dh and I and while calling me Ms. Keli or Mrs. LastName doesn't guarantee respect at least it's an outward sign of respect.

 

[Disney Doll]

I don't think one is better than the other, really.

I usually leave it up to the kids parents how they want their child to address me.

I have had some kids call me Mrs.Smith and I'vd had other kids call me Mrs.Mary. I also don't care if they just call me Mary.

As I said, I leave it up to their parents.

 

[Marseeya]

My kids call all close friends and family members by first names. When I introduce them to someone new, it's Mr./Mrs. Last Name until the adult gives them an alternative.

When I was a kid, I called all adults Mr./Mrs. Last Name except ones who told me otherwise. My friends and I all called one another's parents "Mom" and "Dad" which tickled them to death.

I want to be called by my first name only. Once I start teaching, it'll probably be uncomfortable for a while to be called Mrs. Last name.

I think the best way to show respect is to call the adult what they want to be called.

 

[lulugirl]

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 could not agree more! My neighbor insists that her son call me "Miss Beth", I hate it. What matters to me is how her son treats me, not how he addresses me.

 

[disney4us2002]

I think you need to decide what feels most comfortable for you. I've been "Michael's mommy", "Miss Carla", "Mrs. G", etc. I cannot remember ever having a child or teen address me by my first name alone. I don't want them too either. I feel a title is appropriate whereas a first name alone indicates an equality or familiarity.

 

[Sparx]

When I was a kid, I called all adults Mr./Mrs. Last Name except ones who told me otherwise. My friends and I all called one another's parents "Mom" and "Dad" which tickled them to death.

Some of my friends do that! Or Mrs. Whoever's Mom.

 

[olena]

My friends' children call me Miss Heather.

 

[mbw12]

I prefer Miss (first name.) I hate when I am called Mrs. (last name).....THAT is my mother-in-law....not me!!!!!

 

[SpecialK]

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.

Couldn't disagree more. I don't see it as a power trip. Children and adults are not equals by virtue of the difference in their ages and life experiences. I have my friends - my children have theirs. We are not contemporaries.

Toddlers here call adults by their first names. As soon as they can say Mr/Mrs Lastname, they do. Seems to be the trend in our neighborhood and both DH and I are very comfortable with it.

 

[Kermit]

Our kids are young, but we're teaching them to call adults Mr./Mrs. Lastname. The adults can request something else if they want to, and we'll honor their wishes, but honestly, I hope that none of them do request that our kids call them by their first names. We'll do it out of respect for them if requested to, but I hope that they respect our wishes to maintain more formality and not do that. I'm okay with Mr./Miss Firstname if it's requested.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

I had a class once that was taught by 2 professors that were married to each other. On the first day of class, they said "You can call us Professor (Lastname), you can call us Dave or Susan, and at this stage in our lives, given that we have teenagers, we'll probably answer to Mom and Dad, just don't ask to borrow the car keys"

 

[ASFCurly]

I hate to have someone call me by my last name, and it would drive me nuts if I said, just call me Alisha, or Miss Alisha, and they said, NO, they will call you Miss F(last name) I would consider THAT disrespect.

 

[KatelynnsAuntie]

I prefer just to be called Susan. Young, old, doesn't matter to me. No Miss in front of it, no last name in there anywhere, just Susan.

 

[Aidensmom]

I think the area you live in kind of defines what is appropriate. Where I am, the Miss/Mr first name is what is commonly used and accepted. Sir and ma'am is also common for people the child does not know.

I know some people are offended by being called ma'am, but where I live it is not taken that way, it is a sign of respect.

Among my son's fellow preschool classmates, I am known as Miss Beth or more popularly Miss Aiden's Mom. Either is fine by me.

 

[RadioNate]

I think children should address adults in the manner that the adult requests. We usually start out with Mr/Ms Lastname or Mr/Ms first name for close friends and let the adult decide.

I DESPISE being called Mrs Lastname so I find not resepcting my wishes to be called Alison or Ms Alison disrespectful.