Do your kids say yes ma'am, no ma'am, yes sir, no sir?
@beautifulceiling (1300)
United States
February 28, 2007 11:12pm CST
I raised my kids to be respectful of adults (respectful of everyone, actually) and that they were to say please and thank you and excuse me and all of those things, but I never made them say sir or ma'am. I know there are lots of people who make their kids use these terms when speaking to any adult and are appalled at any child who doesn't. But to me, that's a little coercive and not necessarily respectful. For example, I've heard a lot of kids responding to an adult with a very grumpy-sounding and pouty "yes, SIR." It seems to me that a respectful "yes" means more than a disrespectful "yes sir." In other words, it's the attitude, not the words.
What do you think?
6 responses
@gharinder (2044)
• India
10 Mar 07
in India, the kids learn these words so as to show respect to their teachers, we instead of taking their names mark them either with sir or ma'am and as time passes by it becomes a common habit to call someone like this, especially on work places. so here these words are used to show respect, but as yu said some kids use it as a remark or say it with disrespect, which definitely is bad.
@beautifulceiling (1300)
• United States
13 Mar 07
I guess it's the same all over!
Thanks for your response.
@silvermoonmyst (943)
• United States
1 Mar 07
My son uses his manners. Ive worked really hard to teach him manners and at age 3 he can ask a waitress at a restarant for what he wants and uses please and thank yous. People always act so surprised when he does. Im happy with it though.
I wont make him say yes ma am or sir. It seems a bit silly, He very polite and i think thats good enough.
@beautifulceiling (1300)
• United States
13 Mar 07
Your experience sounds a lot like mine. I agree with your philosophy.
Thanks for the response.
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
1 Mar 07
I agree with you. Same wit hthe Mr. Mrs. thing. It's the attitude, not the name. Also, I hate the power and authority that some people seem to get from being called Mr and Mrs. Weren't we given names so that people may use them?
@beautifulceiling (1300)
• United States
10 Mar 07
Power and authority, yes. Requiring it for that reason bugs me too.
@raijin (10345)
• Philippines
13 Mar 07
Here in the Philippines, saying 'Po' and Opo' is a word of respect that children are taught to practice of being polite to people that are older to them. We also use other names to call older brothers or sisters, like 'kuya' (which means older brother) and 'ate' (which is for older sister).
We are always taught to be courteous to one another, and respecting the elders is one of the most important trait that we value much..
@trinidadvelasco (11401)
• Philippines
13 Mar 07
Yes, I raised my kids to be doing that, as well as, to be mindful of others they may encounter needing of some assistance. In the Philippines, we address our elders manong and manang or kuya and ate as a sign of respect. We therefore say, 'Thank you po, manong/kuya' to an elderly guy and 'Thank you po, manang/ate' to an elderly woman. The world appears to be a better world to live in if the young ones always show respect to the elders in some ways. We must share this same thought because you brought this up here.
@grandkids08 (246)
• United States
1 Mar 07
I brought up my kids to say yes please or no thank you. When i was growing up years and years ago...LOL. you called a adult my mrs smith or mr smith. know kids now adays call you by your fiet name. I know times are changing but i think its getting out of hand..
