https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 05 Apr 2026 03:10:19 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-will-you-teach-your-kids-to-say-yes-maam-and-no-sir#post-377172 Sun, 04 Nov 2012 00:13:32 +0000 pinkcupcake 377172@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lawbee11: awh, cute! Love little well behaved kids!! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-will-you-teach-your-kids-to-say-yes-maam-and-no-sir#post-376317 Sat, 03 Nov 2012 07:46:23 +0000 singingbee 376317@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's very common where I'm from and we will be teaching our children to use their manners and yes m'am/no m'am. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-will-you-teach-your-kids-to-say-yes-maam-and-no-sir#post-376261 Sat, 03 Nov 2012 06:06:36 +0000 Andrea 376261@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, it's not common around here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-will-you-teach-your-kids-to-say-yes-maam-and-no-sir#post-376240 Sat, 03 Nov 2012 05:17:07 +0000 Sweet T 376240@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I will. I'm from Georgia and it was always expected. As I've gotten older, I catch myself wanting to correct kids when they reply with "yeah" or some other slang. It's a sign of respect! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-will-you-teach-your-kids-to-say-yes-maam-and-no-sir#post-375824 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 18:51:33 +0000 mrs. bird 375824@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We won't because we live in new England and it's not used here. They will not be answering with 'yeah' or 'what?' though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-will-you-teach-your-kids-to-say-yes-maam-and-no-sir#post-375815 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 18:48:15 +0000 T.H.O.U. 375815@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We will teach it but not enforce it. </p> <p>However, I do think that you at least need to respond respectfully in full formal English (no slang like "yea"). </p> <p>More than not using sir and ma'am I hate kids not using Mr. And Mrs or Aunt and Uncle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-will-you-teach-your-kids-to-say-yes-maam-and-no-sir#post-375814 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 18:47:26 +0000 woodentulip 375814@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>While I agree with the idea of teaching my children to be polite, I will not be teaching them this in particular. In fact, I know a lot of people of an older generation that actually find being called ma'am or sir rude! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-will-you-teach-your-kids-to-say-yes-maam-and-no-sir#post-375809 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 18:43:21 +0000 lawbee11 375809@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MungBean: ugh, totally agree about rude kids. If we have a boy, I am also planning to teach him about holding the door open for people, and getting up to let women sit down on a bus, train, etc. I went to college in New Orleans, and I remember one time a boy (maybe 10 years old?) stood up and gave me his seat on the streetcar. I thought to myself, "damn! His mom did a good job!" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-will-you-teach-your-kids-to-say-yes-maam-and-no-sir#post-375769 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 18:04:39 +0000 pinkcupcake 375769@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, it's not common here (in the PNW). But I will definitely teach them good manners - nothing irks me more than rude kiddos (and the parents that condone such behavior). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-will-you-teach-your-kids-to-say-yes-maam-and-no-sir#post-375522 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 15:33:50 +0000 Smurfette 375522@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, it would be weird to not in GA. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-will-you-teach-your-kids-to-say-yes-maam-and-no-sir#post-375515 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 15:29:50 +0000 DigAPony 375515@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, that's not common where I'm from. Way too formal. I will definitely teach them "yes please" and "no thank you." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-will-you-teach-your-kids-to-say-yes-maam-and-no-sir#post-375500 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 15:22:58 +0000 Mrsbells 375500@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I will teach them to say "Yes please" and "No thank you" we dont really use ma'am and sir much in our area </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-will-you-teach-your-kids-to-say-yes-maam-and-no-sir#post-375462 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 15:10:38 +0000 Mrs. Blue 375462@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm Southern . . . so, yes, ma'am, we will be using our ma'ams and sirs! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-will-you-teach-your-kids-to-say-yes-maam-and-no-sir#post-375442 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 15:04:49 +0000 MrsHotDog 375442@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes ma'am, we will. I didn't realize that was so reginonal until I moved to Chicago for a short while and every time I said it, people would say something about me "being a sweet southern girl". Haha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-will-you-teach-your-kids-to-say-yes-maam-and-no-sir#post-375160 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 13:51:32 +0000 Bao 375160@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, we were not raised that way around here so it would be strange. However, she will use her manners and be a respectable towards others. Please, thank you, excuse me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-will-you-teach-your-kids-to-say-yes-maam-and-no-sir#post-375152 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 13:47:02 +0000 BananaPancakes 375152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Absolutely. I was raised to use it and still do. It's pretty non-negotiable in my area. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-will-you-teach-your-kids-to-say-yes-maam-and-no-sir#post-375128 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 13:39:17 +0000 Freckles 375128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was taught to be polite, and would never have gotten away with saying, "yeah?" i will teach my children to be polite and address adults properly, but i dont think it is necessary to use maam or sir in order to be polite. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-will-you-teach-your-kids-to-say-yes-maam-and-no-sir#post-375117 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 13:33:53 +0000 MamaMoose 375117@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We live in TN. This will be non-negotiable for our children to learn. Adults here would be very offended to not be addressed as ma'am or sir. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-will-you-teach-your-kids-to-say-yes-maam-and-no-sir#post-375111 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 13:30:54 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 375111@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We will be. We grew up in the south and it's still considered rude not to use it there. My kid would be in a lot of trouble with their grandparents if they didn't address them as sir or m'am. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-will-you-teach-your-kids-to-say-yes-maam-and-no-sir#post-375079 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 13:12:05 +0000 lawbee11 375079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@allison: Oh I totally agree with you that just because it's not what you'd prefer doesn't make it rude. My DH grew up in Chicago and was never taught to say "ma'am" or "sir," but he was taught to say "yes, please" and "no, thank you." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-will-you-teach-your-kids-to-say-yes-maam-and-no-sir#post-375078 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 13:12:03 +0000 BKCaribBaby 375078@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know about Yes, Ma'm and Sir, BUT I will be teaching my child(ren) to respect adults. I think in general kids these days act as if they are equal or superior to adults. The way I grew up was pretty formal, so I am sometimes shocked at how some kids speak to older people these days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-will-you-teach-your-kids-to-say-yes-maam-and-no-sir#post-375068 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 13:07:17 +0000 tororojo 375068@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow, I never knew this was so uncommon in other places! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-will-you-teach-your-kids-to-say-yes-maam-and-no-sir#post-375050 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 12:55:55 +0000 heffalump 375050@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope. It's not common where I live. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-will-you-teach-your-kids-to-say-yes-maam-and-no-sir#post-375041 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 12:52:17 +0000 yoursilverlining 375041@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, there is something that creeps me out about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-will-you-teach-your-kids-to-say-yes-maam-and-no-sir#post-375015 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 12:40:40 +0000 allison 375015@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think there's anything wrong with teaching it, but I think it's really unfair to scold a child (one that isn't yours, especially) because they didn't say "yes, ma'am" to you. Just because it's not what you'd prefer doesn't make it rude. My mother would absolutely NOT agree with me, though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-will-you-teach-your-kids-to-say-yes-maam-and-no-sir#post-375014 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 12:40:39 +0000 PurplePumps 375014@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope. I think it sounds very out of place up in the north east. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-will-you-teach-your-kids-to-say-yes-maam-and-no-sir#post-375005 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 12:36:13 +0000 sarac 375005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hell to the no. I grew up in Texas too, but I got out of there young. Hearing people say that just reminds me of my creeper relatives. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-will-you-teach-your-kids-to-say-yes-maam-and-no-sir#post-375002 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 12:35:31 +0000 lawbee11 375002@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@allison: Here's an interesting article that talks about how the use of ma'am/sir is on the decline: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/02/us/southern-manners-on-decline-some-say.html?_r=2&#038;sq=southern&#038;amp" rel="nofollow">http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/02/us/southern-manners-on-decline-some-say.html?_r=2&#038;sq=southern&#038;amp</a>;</p> <p>We're still planning to teach it, though :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-will-you-teach-your-kids-to-say-yes-maam-and-no-sir#post-374998 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 12:34:07 +0000 JennyLayneAZ 374998@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, I think its adorable. FI's brother &amp; SIL live in TX and have 3 daughters who say yes ma'am and no sir. I love it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/so-will-you-teach-your-kids-to-say-yes-maam-and-no-sir#post-374988 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 12:30:54 +0000 MrsTiz 374988@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, absolutely. Nothing is more aggravating to me than a child saying "yeah" or "nah" when I talk to them. Still to this day when my dad calls my name I respond "Sir?" or "Yes, sir?". I was raised that way, and although DH wasn't (they also don't use titles, like Aunt/Uncle) we will with our children because it's respectful IMO. I totally understand that this is regional, though! </p> <p>I'm in NC if that matters, I don't know if we're southern or not </p>