My answer to the q: How do your kids refer to adults?
I wish we had a better system, but they call them all sorts of names! With people at church, it's easy: Sister Purser, Brother Green, etc. Similar for aunts and uncles (though I'm not extremely strict about it). It gets tricky with other adults: a handful of our close adult friends get called their first name only, like Allen and Cynthia, but I feel like that's not very respectful? A lot of friends' moms get called Miss ___, ie Miss Hannah and Miss Elizabeth, which works well. But calling a dad "Mr. Allen" or "Mr. Robbie" kind of sounds silly to me?!
I NEVER called adults by their first names when I was a kid, but now I don't know how to teach my kids all the manners around adult names.
Would love to hear if you've figured this one out!
The first time a little girl called me "Elissa" rather than Sister Bean, Miss Elissa, Alice's Mom, or Auntie Elissa I knew it felt wrong!! I'm fine with informality, but I really think it's nice to say Mr. or Miss. It's very hard to return to formality so I think if we can maintain some sort of respect in this area that would be ideal!! Also, thank you for the shout out!!
OPAL! My goodness.
We do that very southern thing of Miss/Mr. First Name. But my kids are still little...I wonder if they would switch to last names in teenagerdom.
My answer to the q: How do your kids refer to adults?
I wish we had a better system, but they call them all sorts of names! With people at church, it's easy: Sister Purser, Brother Green, etc. Similar for aunts and uncles (though I'm not extremely strict about it). It gets tricky with other adults: a handful of our close adult friends get called their first name only, like Allen and Cynthia, but I feel like that's not very respectful? A lot of friends' moms get called Miss ___, ie Miss Hannah and Miss Elizabeth, which works well. But calling a dad "Mr. Allen" or "Mr. Robbie" kind of sounds silly to me?!
I NEVER called adults by their first names when I was a kid, but now I don't know how to teach my kids all the manners around adult names.
Would love to hear if you've figured this one out!
The first time a little girl called me "Elissa" rather than Sister Bean, Miss Elissa, Alice's Mom, or Auntie Elissa I knew it felt wrong!! I'm fine with informality, but I really think it's nice to say Mr. or Miss. It's very hard to return to formality so I think if we can maintain some sort of respect in this area that would be ideal!! Also, thank you for the shout out!!
Opal is my favorite! My little Hazel was born this month, two years ago (today, actually!) and so every time I see one, I get to think of her.
I will accept being called ANYTHING by a child, except for Mrs. Zwahlen, haha.