re: Do You Teach Your Kids to Say "Ma'am" or "Sir" As a Sign of Respect?

Yes.

Funny story... my daughter is in grad school in Philadelphia at Villanova. She said that her professors kept getting irritated when said “sir” and “ma’am” to them.

She finally just said “ Look, that’s just the way I was raised”

quote:

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I still say "ma'am" and "sir"

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I apply m’am and sir to everyone- elders, family, friends, at work; there is no situation where sir or m’am is unpleasant or not applicable.

My parents weren’t extremely strict, but my brother and I were punished if we failed to respond respectfully.

What some call “Southern manners” is simply proper etiquette, and I’m grateful our parents prioritized this behavior. My brother and I both serve the general public as employment and enjoy it because we were raised to apply respect, empathy and manners. This was whipped into us and directly contributed to our success as adults.

My husband was raised the same way. Our son addresses us and his elders as sir or m’am. When I holler his name, he hollers back, “M’AM?” Not “Wut?”

I definitely teach that

Yes sir I do, we are from the south

Yes

I don't make my kid call me sir but she does to other adults

I say sir and ma'am to people 30 years younger than me every day. It is a sign of respect. I show everyone this respect no matter their age until they do something to not deserve it. On the other hand I am 50 and have never be comfortable being called sir. Especially my friends kids. It seems impersonal to me. I correct them quickly and tell them to call me by my first name.

I say sir and ma'am to everyone until they do something to lose my respect.

My son says sir and ma'am to all adults