The Aunty and Uncle rule

Must be a rare rule as I have never heard of such a thing. My parents were somewhat oldfasioned when it came to raising children, and never enforced any rules like that. I always figured it was the choice of the kid to add "aunt/uncle" as a title to their aunt or uncle.

I am an aunt and when my nephew was born I was 21 and I told my brother I didn't want to be called Aunt.

My reasoning is A/ I feel too young to be an aunt. Though, you know I know people can be aunts when they're born, it's just weird. and 2/ the only aunts and uncles I ever really liked growing up were the ones I didn't call "aunt" or "uncle". They were just Barbara and Clinton.

my brother and his wife still try to do the "aunt" thing, but I just really don't like it and personally I think if I don't want it... that's what should count. If they end up calling me aunt then I'll have to deal with it... but for the most part that don't. They know who I am... i don't have to be called "aunt" just to be their aunt and someone special.

I feel the same way you do. In fact, growing up, we were taught to address all family friends as an "aunt" or "uncle" because it was a way to show respect to those elders and to kind of give the idea that we were being raised and/or watched by everyone. I still like it, and I would teach it to my children one day. I don't know about everyone else, but I think it's important for me to teach my children those little aspects of life to help them have respect for those people in their lives.

My nieces and nephews all call me Aunt Jessi. It's always been that way. My oldest nephew is 17 and he still puts the all important 'Aunt' before saying my name. My youngest nephew is 3 and he calls me 'Aunt' also. I still name mine by putting 'Aunt' or 'Uncle' before their names. I know what you mean though, it is slipping away and it is definitely up to parents, as well as the aunt or uncle, to keep instilling it generation after generation. My kids use 'Aunt' or 'Uncle', I made sure of that from the time they started talking. I'm doing my part to keep it from fizzling out completely.

Last Summer I met a nephew and 2 nieces for the first time, and they were already calling me 'Aunt'. I only spent a couple of hours with them, but they are just as important as the ones I've known since birth. 'Aunt' and 'Uncle' are important titles. Like Grandma or Grandpa. We need to try harder to remember the values our parents instilled in us.

For the unfortunate people who were raised by crappy parents that had no morals or values to instill, or parents that passed away before any morals or values could be instilled, should still try to pass on some of the more common traditions to their kids. Kids are our future, so we need to arm them well.

Thanks for starting this discussion!! It's a good one!

I agree..I have always used Aunt and Uncle..Depending on who it is, I use Auntie or just Aunt..It is respectful and have taught my children to do it as well. My grandsons also are taught to use Aunt and Uncle...It is very important...

In my country is a child calls her auntie and uncle just by the name it is considered as being very rude. We here could not accept if younger people call their auntie and uncle as names only. We still live by the old fashion, and we all like it that way.

I think that it's an Asian thing, as most of my friends from Europe and America don't really practice that. As for me, if my nephews and nieces are not too much younger than me, then I would feel really uncomfortable if they called me auntie. As it is, they call me "Kak" which is Malay for elder sister. Unless we're friends, I normally call my elder relatives by their proper terms, one to avoid my uncles and aunties getting on my case (;p) and the other because it does feel more respectful.

Well, I have one niece that is only 7 years younger than me. She never called me Aunty, and I don't want her to. She is actually closer in age to me than my sister is. Her mother is 13 years older than I am. In many ways my niece felt like a sister to me. She lived with my family for a time and the fact that she was closer to me in age made me feel closer to her than to her mother (my sister).

Her youngers siblings and my other nieces and nephews always use Aunt before my name. I'm okay with that too. It's kind of nice. I'm not big on titles though. I think I would be okay with it either way.

I think that the aunt/uncle rule should be considered but not forced. Sure, when a child is younger it's going to be necessary for the parent to distinguish family members by calling them aunt or uncle, but when the child is old enough to tell the difference between family and regular people, it shouldn't be as forced. Plus, after they're adults, isn't it normally to where the people become first name basis anyway?

Hi there chapcity, I do not agree with you saying it is "old fashioned.... because i would not like to admit that i am old fashioned! I too would like my child to respect who they are talking to if they are older than them.... they should always name family members/relatives by "uncle and aunty" rule because it shows their respect for them! It is a part of having manners and i personally do call my uncle and aunty by their title, then their name. I think it too is a "positive tradition" which should be followed and taught to then next generation. What if there was more than one John in your relative?
See, it is like your child calling you by your name, i would like them to call me "dad" or "daddy" w/e suits them, but surely i would not like them to call me by my name, that is disrespectful and only friends or people with the same social status should call you by your name, like a colleague or something....