Curious, what's everyone's opinion on "yes ma'am, yes sir, no ma'am no sir"? My son is nearly 7, and…

I think its important to be polite and teach respect of elders. I don't think "ma'am" is necessary but I grew up addressing my elders by their surnames. "Yes , miss kambam" for example.

I will be teaching my son yes ma'am , no ma'am, from the start. Manners are so important.

@kambam I don't like teaching that someone deserves respect just because they are older. There's a lot of adults out there who don't deserve respect, haha. But I have taught him to use please, thank you, hold doors, and just generally be very friendly and helpful.

@jordanmartin1732 I don't feel like ma'am and sir have anything to do with manners at all.

No I totally get where youre coming from because I feel similarly. But im not going to put my ideals onto my child, personally. He will most likely be taught to respect others no matter the age, sex, color etc. It won't harm him to do so. And when he's older he can address people however he chooses 😝

@joanna.davis, my husband and I both work with children and we absolutely hate it. We tell parents that we don't require it at all. As long as a child is responding with yes and no we are happy. We find that it creates a divide between us and the children we work with. We make it a point to know the children and sometimes it makes children hesitant to get comfortable with us.

@kambam oh definitely, but I don't feel like not using ma'am or sir is disrespectful anyway. He's a very courteous kid, so if someone feels disrespected by that one thing, I think it's ridiculous.

I do agree that not all people deserve respect (thats aimed toward their own character, not others), but everyone should be respectful, especially children, regardless of whom it is directed towards.

I suppose we live in a generation now that "ma'am and sir" have dwindled, but for me its polite thats why I will be teaching my son to do so 💙 @joanna.davis

But I do agree that its not like a mandatory term, as long as they answer/talk respectfully of course

@mswedes yes! I feel like it's telling the kid "You are inferior to me, and should address me as your superior."

I want my kids to know that they should listen to certain adults because those adults want what's best for them. Not that they have to be obedient simply because they are a child.

My girls were taught yes mom yes pop yes grandma etc. Its never a yeah

@joanna.davis, we use yes ma'am and sir and no ma'am and sir in our house. To me it is respectful and better than "yeah" or "no". Now, with that being said, I use it as well, even to my son. I don't only use it for people older than me.... that is my preference and how I TAUGHT my child.... now.... if you did not teach your son to do so, and you have a reason, or even if it was your preference, that is YOUR business! If his school wants him to use it, then they can talk to him and teach him to use it... I HATE when school make those comments about "well we do this here and I'm sure you will work on it at home!" From your post it sounded like you had a reason for not teaching him at that point in time, and I respect that and think that the school should respect that! Your an amazing mama! Keep up what your doing 😘

@js_kidsmom we make sure he uses "yes" and "no" rather than "yeah" or "uh-huh." But he doesn't say "no" to a request, only questions.

@purpledpink I think using it toward everyone like that is great, it steers it away from the "children being inferior" thing I was talking about. If the school wants to have him use it whatever, but he better not get punished for forgetting to do so 🙄

@lexieelovee0329 my mom taught it to me as a kid also, but it was a serious power struggle for me, I refused to use it, haha.

@joanna.davis, I 100% agree! As long as he is respectful, that's all that matters! For instance my kid says yes ma'am and no ma'am religiously, however, we have had an issue with "disrespect" by him intentionally not looking at people when they are talking, and him closing his eyes and getting this shit eating grin on his face when he is being talked to! Drives me NUTS! Getting that under control is more important to me than him using yes ma'am and no ma'am lol!

@purpledpink yeah, my son gets into a mood like that sometimes, lol. I think it has a lot to do with his processing disorder and ADHD, but still drives me crazy.

@lexieelovee0329 I live in the deep South, so no one looks at you funny if you use it here, lol.

As long as he respectful to her I don't see why ma'am and sir is so important

@chelli exactly 🙄

I am not teaching my son the ma'am and sir. My family is southern and my cousin does it with her kids. I don't like being called ma'am and my father hates being called sir. I make sure my son learns no thank you, thank you, please. All of that type of stuff. When he's older teaching him other basics like holding door open being nice and helpful and all of that not to point (trying to do that now but he's still youn)