Why do people use the word "kiddo"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I call mine kidlets.

lol that is funny

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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?

I remember this thread from last year.

Your post is hysterical. I would absolutely refuse to buy the crib from those people on principal alone.

The words that will make me look sideways at you are kiddo, preggo, preggers, hubby, hubs, wifey, littles, and momma. I don't know why they irk me but I'll say that none of my educated friends use them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

(NP)

[Anonymous]

Im an ES teacher and my principal at my old school, who was cold and heartless towards children, loved calling them kiddos in front of parents. It still makes me gag

[Anonymous]

My realtor asked if we had « little ones » and as a childless person I had to think for a second about what he meant.