I will definitely be teaching our kids to say yes ma'am/no ma'am and yes sir/no sir. I feel like it's more common in the South, though. We live in Texas (technically not considered "the South"), but it's very common to hear that around here. I think hearing a little boy say "yes ma'am" is the cutest thing ever!
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Nah, it's pretty uncommon out West, so I'm kind of uncomfortable with that level of formality. If we lived in area where it was more common, we probably would, though.
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Yes, I will be teaching our kids yes/no ma'am/sir.
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I think it's nice but it would be so uncommon where we live so no. I'll certainly teach them to address adults politely though!
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Absolutely! We're also in Texas, though--I think it's a regional thing.
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No, too formal out here!
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I don't think so. We live in TX, but DH hates hearing that (he is not from here). He doesn't like it when my daugther says "yes, ma'am" to the teachers. I think it's ok but am not going to fight him on it. I have asked him why he doesn't like it, and he has trouble articulating. I think it is because he is from a country where there is more of a class structure, and those phrases are used mainly by servants.
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That's really a tough one. I grew up in the deep south, where you get in trouble at school for not using "ma'am" to address your teachers. But I think it's really silly and unnecessary, so I don't want to make my children say it. I guess we'll just play it by ear when the time comes.
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It would be looked on as incredibly formal in the Northeast, I would think. But I will absolutely teach my kids to be polite and respectful.
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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!
I'm in NC if that matters, I don't know if we're southern or not
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Yes, I think its adorable. FI's brother & SIL live in TX and have 3 daughters who say yes ma'am and no sir. I love it!
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@allison: Here's an interesting article that talks about how the use of ma'am/sir is on the decline: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/02/us/southern-manners-on-decline-some-say.html?_r=2&sq=southern&
We're still planning to teach it, though
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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.
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Nope. I think it sounds very out of place up in the north east.
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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!
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No, there is something that creeps me out about it.
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Nope. It's not common where I live.
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Wow, I never knew this was so uncommon in other places!
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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.
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@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."
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Absolutely. I was raised to use it and still do. It's pretty non-negotiable in my area.
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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.
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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.
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I'm Southern . . . so, yes, ma'am, we will be using our ma'ams and sirs!
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I will teach them to say "Yes please" and "No thank you" we dont really use ma'am and sir much in our area
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No, that's not common where I'm from. Way too formal. I will definitely teach them "yes please" and "no thank you."
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Yes, it would be weird to not in GA.
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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).
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@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!"
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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!
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We will teach it but not enforce it.
However, I do think that you at least need to respond respectfully in full formal English (no slang like "yea").
More than not using sir and ma'am I hate kids not using Mr. And Mrs or Aunt and Uncle.
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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.
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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!
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No, it's not common around here.
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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.
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@lawbee11: awh, cute! Love little well behaved kids!!
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38 comments