POLL: What do your kids call your friends? Mrs. Smith or Sally?

[Anonymous]

It depends on what the adult wants.

[Anonymous]

First name. Seemed to fit since no one in my generation was particularly fond of being called Miss, Mrs, or Ms. (Last Name).

[Anonymous]

Sally. I'm a NYer who lived in the South for three years. I really didn't like being called Miss Sally. I really didn't like instructing my kids to call others Miss Larla. There's familiarity, and there's formality. I think the in between thing is confusing to kids. And sorry I just think it's dumb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sally. I'm a NYer who lived in the South for three years. I really didn't like being called Miss Sally. I really didn't like instructing my kids to call others Miss Larla. There's familiarity, and there's formality. I think the in between thing is confusing to kids. And sorry I just think it's dumb.

That's the way I feel about being called Sally. Too casual and familiar for a child to call an adult by the first name.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Miss Patty, Miss Sarah. We're southern.

We're from NY, but picked up this habit when we lived in NoVa. I like it a lot. It distinguishes the adults without being too formal.

Same. I'm originally from NJ but have lived in many places. It's just polite.

[Anonymous]

Miss Patty, Miss Sarah. We're southern.

We're not southern, but this still makes sense. Shows respect, but it's easy and has warmth, not distant formality.
If they're not close friends, then of course they're Mr. and Ms. Smith.
Unless they're Indian. Then they're all Auntie or Uncle.

[Anonymous]

Very close friends' kids while we have known since before our children could talk call us Miss Sally Mr. Jim. Our child does the same for those families. When they were very little called us Child's First Name Mom/Dad. So I was Mary Ellen's Mom. Frankly, I loved that and wished it would never end. From early elementary school on we called other parents and adults outside the family Mr. or Mrs. Last Name. I kept my own name so I answer to both Mrs. My Last Name and Mrs. Husband's Last Name.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends on what the adult wants.

Yup. We have some Ms./Mr. Lastname people, some Miss/Mr. Firstname people, some Aunt/Uncle Firstname people (who are not actually aunts or uncles), and some Firstname people.

[Anonymous]

We have a few extremely close friends that my children have known for a long time and are more like aunts and uncles to them than just "mom and dad's friends", so they are allowed to call those friends by their first name. Otherwise, it's always Mrs. Smith. No exceptions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Miss Patty, Miss Sarah. We're southern.

We're from NY, but picked up this habit when we lived in NoVa. I like it a lot. It distinguishes the adults without being too formal.

I'm from the Rockies, and I hate that custom. Really hate it. If that was being used, I'd ask my kids to use Ms. Smith instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:11:41 - where DH is from, kids call their friends' parents Friend's Name-Mommy/Daddy, so "Susie Mommy" would be my title. I like that title most but realize it would be weird for American kids, so I usually just introduce myself by my name.

Why do you think the would be weird for American kids. All my son's friends call me John's mom. Not weird at all. My CD calls my close friends Auntie or Uncle so and so. Other adults are Mr or Ms first name

[Anonymous]

Other adults we know, their kids call them bt first name.

At school, they call faculty admin and by their first name.

It works for my family

[Anonymous]

I like the respect aspect of Mr. Mrs. Ms. for children while older teens say of college age could transition to first names of close family friends. In this day and age, the formality also helps to keep in mind the difference between the authority figures and the kids/teens. It certainly sounds better to hear the familiar if annoying refrain: "Well Mr. andr Mrs. Smith lets XXX do this, so why can't I?" Sounds a lot better than dealing with "Well John and Sally let XXX do this, why can't I?" And in the casualness of the world around them it is just one more basic way to instill basic manners which so often seem to disappear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends on what the adult wants.

Yup. We have some Ms./Mr. Lastname people, some Miss/Mr. Firstname people, some Aunt/Uncle Firstname people (who are not actually aunts or uncles), and some Firstname people.

Also agree. With our friends, it's first name, since we're all comfortable with that. Otherwise, I try to see how the other adult introduces himself/herself. And if it's the parent of one of my kid's friends, my kids default to "[kid's name]'s mom." I refer to myself by my first name with my kids' friends.

[Anonymous]

Mrs. Smith, Miss Jane (unmarried teachers, coaches etc), Auntie Nita (close family friends).

All male teachers, bosses at work are Mr. Smith etc.

If designations are there - Dr. so and so, they will use that.

Unless an adult or elder gives them permission to call them with a different name, they use this form of politeness.

I also do not like when other people's kids call me by my first name. I will interrupt and ask to be called as "My Child's Mom" - if they do not want to call me "Mrs. XYZ". Or not use my name. Thankfully, I do not have many such kids in my life.