Why do people use the word "kiddo"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids are baby goats

Hi. Please consult a dictionary. There you will lean that the same word has multiple meanings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't mind the word "kiddo" but if people put it in the same neighborhood as "hubbie" or littles (or prego) I will stop using it.

“Littles” is gagworthy, and overlaps heavily with people whose whole identity is wrapped up in being a “boymom.”

Agree it is gagworthy but it's not a #boymom thing. Definitely more of a performative crunchy mom thing, usually said by a mom wearing Birkenstocks carrying a toddler named Basil in a Tula carrier. She will use the phrase "littles" as she talks at you about her philosophy on mindful elimination communication. You will want to die, but before you can die, you will know a lot about Basil's bowel movements.

You guys are killing be! These are amazing.

My thing is that these dumb nicknames are excusable if your oldest is under 3. Do I love it? No. But becoming a mom can involve this search for identity and I think a lot of people try this stuff on for a bit. But once you have a preschooler, I think you should have dropped the cutesy nicknames and the whole “being mommy is my whole world!” schtick. I would also hope you’ve realized by them that there are no perfect parents and it’s gross to judge other parents over stuff like screen time and their kids eating chicken nuggets.

Honestly, I’m MUCH more grossed out by people who use cutesy nicknames for their spouse. Hubs, hubby, better half, wifey, “the wife”…. Gag me. Hubby is the worst.

I completely agree. Once you have a preschooler, you need to move on to judging people based on the nicknames they use.

[Anonymous]

Old thread but was just reading through posts on our neighborhood list serve and it's amazing how many people exclusively use "kiddo" or "little one" and I thought about this thread from a few months back. I just realized why this annoys me.

It's because it feels like people do it to be cute and, specifically, to make you see them as cute. It feels fake. It's the same people who are peppering their posts with unnecessary exclamation points and random overshares. It feels needy as hell.

It's like: "Hey neighbors! Our little one has finally graduated from the crib, yay! (Also, gulp!) We're selling it for $200, including mattress and bedding if you are interested. Hit me up if your kiddo needs a new place to sleep!"

When it could be like: "Good condition gray crib for sale, $200 OBO. Mattress and bedding available for free if you buy the crib. A few nicks but otherwise in good shape (see pics). LMK if you have questions."

Also only women do this and I think maybe we should ask why. Really. Why?

[Anonymous]

I hate it. It feels like an attempt to be cute because the speaker is uncomfortable somehow.

[Anonymous]

Our superintendent of schools used to call the students kiddos all the time. The way she said it made me think she really didn't like children at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The principal at our ES always says "kiddos" but never "kids" or "children" -- I don't get this. Is "kiddos" more PC or better school speak for some reason?

Kiddos is as stupid as "Littles or little ones.". I suppose they think it's cute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hate it. It feels like an attempt to be cute because the speaker is uncomfortable somehow.

I find it ingratiating. I agree it stems from discomfort, but I also think they are specifically trying to emphasize that they are a MOMMY and their kids are still small. And I say that as a mom of little kids. But people who use this kind of cutesy talk seem really intent on making sure I know this about them. It's not necessary.

I think it's just the mom version of uptalk or adopting a kind of babyish, ultra-feminine speech as an adult woman in order to get people to find you less threatening or cuter. Like a very specific way of playing dumb or incompetent. I do not like it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The principal at our ES always says "kiddos" but never "kids" or "children" -- I don't get this. Is "kiddos" more PC or better school speak for some reason?

It's cute, why not? I don't think it's cringe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The principal at our ES always says "kiddos" but never "kids" or "children" -- I don't get this. Is "kiddos" more PC or better school speak for some reason?

What's to get? It is an affectionate term for kids. "Children" is fine if you are living in the 50s and kids are baby goats.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The principal at our ES always says "kiddos" but never "kids" or "children" -- I don't get this. Is "kiddos" more PC or better school speak for some reason?

Kiddos is as stupid as "Littles or little ones.". I suppose they think it's cute.

as someone who uses all three... yes, I think they are cute! haha! It has never ever occurred to me until this thread that anyone would care or be irritated by silly nicknames.

[Anonymous]

You’re really questioning this type of thing, not everyone speaks the same way as you get over it

[Anonymous]

I call mine kidlets.

[Anonymous]

The people I know who use “kiddo” (and “littles”, “hubby”, etc) tend to be a bit dim. It isn’t something intelligent people say. And it is powerfully irritating.

Case in point: the person on this thread who earnestly explains that she uses “kiddo” because she doesn’t want others to know if she is discussing boys or girls.

[Anonymous]

Kiddos is fine especially using kiddo as a term of endearment.

“Littles” and “tiny humans” makes me want to cut my ears off. Doesn’t make sense I know but I still hate it.

[Anonymous]

Someone on the PTA at my kids' school uses "kiddos" all the time and it drives me absolutely batty. At least mix it up! It's okay from time to time but more than once is cringeworthy.