Can we ban “kiddo?”

[Anonymous]

DCUM is the biggest bunch of friggin control freaks

[Anonymous]

My mom called me this through my 20s. Then she died a horrible death. Now I use it with my own kids. No. You may not ban "kiddo."

[Anonymous]

I’m almost 34 and my mom still calls me kiddo 😂

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nope. Freedom of speech.

Nope. "Hubby" falls squarely within the fighting words doctrine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mom called me this through my 20s. Then she died a horrible death. Now I use it with my own kids. No. You may not ban "kiddo."

I'm so sorry about your mom. My mom has always called me this and it always makes me feel very loved. So...no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m almost 34 and my mom still calls me kiddo 😂

I’m 57 and my 80 year old dad calls me kiddo. I have no problem with that. I can’t stand any other use of it as in “We’re getting pizza for the kiddos tonight.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It drives me nuts that these are terms only women use, and that this manner of speaking is very transparently something women do to appear cute/non-threatening/charming.

I know some of you are going to say "that's not why I do it, I just like it," but it's baby talk and women use baby talk intentionally to make themselves appear helpless and cute. It is really grating.

It bothers me that you think that it's specific to women, and also that you can police it. Treating women like adult means not lecturing them on their word choice. Your misogyny shows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kiddos
Littles
Tippy-top
Hubby

Ban them all.

Buddy is the worst of all

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s like nails on a chalkboard

How about “bi+<#o”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It drives me nuts that these are terms only women use, and that this manner of speaking is very transparently something women do to appear cute/non-threatening/charming.

I know some of you are going to say "that's not why I do it, I just like it," but it's baby talk and women use baby talk intentionally to make themselves appear helpless and cute. It is really grating.

YES YES YES!!

I first heard that term from an older male physician. So maybe not. It’s often used in clinics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It drives me nuts that these are terms only women use, and that this manner of speaking is very transparently something women do to appear cute/non-threatening/charming.

I know some of you are going to say "that's not why I do it, I just like it," but it's baby talk and women use baby talk intentionally to make themselves appear helpless and cute. It is really grating.

It bothers me that you think that it's specific to women, and also that you can police it. Treating women like adult means not lecturing them on their word choice. Your misogyny shows.

THANK YOU

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mom called me this through my 20s. Then she died a horrible death. Now I use it with my own kids. No. You may not ban "kiddo."

Whatever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So agree with you OP. I especially hate it when teachers or school administrators say it. Can we communicate like adults please?

I’m an elementary school principal, and I hate “kiddos.” The other one that is nails on the chalkboard for me is “friend” when referring to a student that struggles with behavior, as in “Our friend in first grade is refusing to come in from the playground.” Just use the kid’s name!

Hi, friend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It drives me nuts that these are terms only women use, and that this manner of speaking is very transparently something women do to appear cute/non-threatening/charming.

I know some of you are going to say "that's not why I do it, I just like it," but it's baby talk and women use baby talk intentionally to make themselves appear helpless and cute. It is really grating.

It bothers me that you think that it's specific to women, and also that you can police it. Treating women like adult means not lecturing them on their word choice. Your misogyny shows.

Treating women like adults means holding them accountable when they use cutesy baby talk. If men spoke this way, and especially if they did it specifically to make themselves look cute and non-threatening, we'd also criticize them.

If you want to be treated like an adult, try speaking like one. A grown up doesn't say crap like "ooooh, the hubs and I love that place, we can't wait to take the littles there next vacay!" That is the language of a freaking idiot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So agree with you OP. I especially hate it when teachers or school administrators say it. Can we communicate like adults please?

I’m an elementary school principal, and I hate “kiddos.” The other one that is nails on the chalkboard for me is “friend” when referring to a student that struggles with behavior, as in “Our friend in first grade is refusing to come in from the playground.” Just use the kid’s name!

It is really baffling to me how many different words we keep coming up with to avoid saying "students" or "child." Our school calls them "scholars" or, yes, "friends". I don't actually mind friend in ECE because I think it's designed to help build connections between the children and because when you are teaching them to be kind to each other and share, it is useful to talk about how to treat "friends." But that doesn't mean all the adults have to use the term, too, all the way through 5th grade. It just sounds condescending at that point. These children are not your friends. They are students. Why is that a bad word?