Regional Differences

[aprilgail2]

I also wonder, whether it is really "regional" or not...how many here refer to people to their face as Aunt A, Uncle B, Cousin D, etc as adults? Very few people that I know do that. Most will say "my Aunt A" when talking about them, but drop the "Aunt" when talking to them. I have one niece from NJ that calls me "Aunt Michelle" (she's in her 30s) and it always strikes me kinda funny. I also have an elderly cousin from Alabama who will call and say, "This is Cousin June." Also strikes me funny.

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We don't say "cousin" before cousins but not matter what the age you still say "aunt mary" and "uncle john"- can't imagine not saying aunt or uncle first!!!

When talking about my aunts/uncles I use Aunt/uncle/cousin. However, never ever have I used "Aunt" or "Uncle" when talking to them. I never knew people did that, honestly, until I met DH. And it drives me INSANE that at 33...he still uses those terms. Ugh. And so do all his siblings.

I never have/never will...and that is one of the many reasons his family doesn't like me

And also...never had I ever known kids to call elders...Mrs. LastName. Certainly not parents of their friends. It was always their first name. It sounds too stuffy and informal otherwise.

I can see my family having an issue with you too if you refused to call aunts and uncles aunt and uncle. They would think you VERY rude and disrespectful.

As far as kids go I like to be called by my first name and everyone I know other than ONE person has the kids call them by their first names too---the one lady insists on being called MRS. Lastname....we really don't associate much with her though because to me that is uptight and stuffy.

 

[shine87]

I call most of my aunt's/uncles Aunt____ and Uncle____ except for two. My mother's younger brother moved in with us when he was about 15 and I was 4 so he's always kind of been an older brother than uncle. My dad's youngest sister is only 3 years older than me so it would have been weird calling her aunt____ when we went to the same elementary school!

 

[FireDancer]

We don't say "cousin" before cousins but not matter what the age you still say "aunt mary" and "uncle john"- can't imagine not saying aunt or uncle first!!!

Same here. I'm 33 and it is still Aunt <whatever> or Uncle <whatever>. I also still call my friend's parents Mr. or Mrs. <last name> until they ask me to call them by their first name. By now just about all of them have.