re: Sir and Ma'am..... Do you use it?

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What does this mean? Your boys never need correction immediately?

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I mean I don;t raise my children to do things simply because I do them reflexively. I apologize for the in-artful way I wrote that previously.

There are things I still do as an adult that I do largely because some adult had me do it as a child that in most cases made no sense but THEY did them because their parents did, and theirs before them, etc largely without really thinking about the "why." I try and think about the "why" before instructing my boys. If there is a solid "why," I have no problem going with the flow and insisting on behavior that falls in line with the norm. If there isn't one, then I'm ok with allowing whatever tradition that is to fall away.

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But I see way too many parents that have grown to accept absolutely terrible behavior and seem to accept and basically defend it, taking all kinds of odd stances.

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Oh, I agree...and I hope I've been clear that my little stance on this does not, in any way, suggest I don't expect my children to behave well in public or to be respectful to others...be they adults or other kids. I hate being around parents that allow their kids to do anything and disrupt those around them. That's not at all what I'm advocating or suggesting. Only that my choice to not force my kids to say sir or ma'am lumps me in with the dipshits that refuse to parents their kids...because I'm not.