Why don't children address adults as Mr, and Mrs, anymore?

Question

Has anyone else noticed that in the last 10 or so years this has changed? Can't be bring that back? And maybe it would improve the respect issue a lot of kids have.

Answer 1

I don't plan on having my child call adults by titles unless they would like it. I think it depends on the adult. Personally, I feel uncomfortable with kids calling me Mrs. I work with kids as well & I have them call me by my first name. It's just what I'm comfortable with. If my neighbor rather be called Mrs. Smith, that's fine, but otherwise I've never felt it was needed.

Answer 2

Children do not address adults as "Mr" or "Mrs" because they are introduced to those people by the first name. If they are taught to use the more formal address, they will use it.

I am a grandmother and all the young people that I know call me by my first name --it does not bother me, but if it did, I would just tell them what I would prefer to be called.

When I was young, my parent's friends were introduced to me as "Mr" or "Mrs" and I always referred to them in that way --even when I was an adult.

I don't know if reviving that custom would improve respect or not.

Answer 3

I think it has a lot to do with the parents. I know that I HATE being called Mrs. anything and when I am called that by anyone, adult or child, I ask that they use my first name. I think that many parents today do not like to be called Mr or Mrs, however it is important to teach your kids to use titles with people unless they have been told otherwise.

Answer 4

Because people in their 30's nowadays don't view themselves the same way as they did in the past. They still don't really think of themselves as 'grown ups'. Most of my peers are uncomfortable with being called mr/mrs. So children aren't told to call people that.

My 4 year old daughter happily calls any adult exactly what they say to be called. She isn't bothered at all by the fact that 1/3 of adults she calls mr/mrs X and 2/3 she calls by their name. If you want to be mr/mrs whatever, just introduce yourself that way.

Answer 5

Children don't address adults as Mr. and Mrs. anymore because they've "changed". Parents don't teach them correct manners and THOSE parents are just ignorant. Perhaps, the kids are just spoiled or bratty. Anything can be the case. For now, we'll never know.

Answer 6

Too many people think it is archaic to expect a kid to say Mr. and Mrs. I think its a crying shame. However, my kids say Mr. and Mrs. or Brother and Sister (to their church family) to all adults except family--you know, like adult cousins and such. And you know what stinks, a lot of times I'll introduce my kids by saying, "this is Mr. Smith." Only for him to reply, "no, call me John." It is so aggravating that people wont even go along with how I want to raise my kids. Any way, I will then say, "Mr. John." I think the problem started when we quite teaching our kids to respect God. Its just a sign of the times...the "end times" that is.

Answer 7

This is the fault of parents who haven't kept up the tradition - they were so eager to be 'friends' with their kids and their kids' friends.
I always felt like the lone holdout among other parents of chldren my age. I was a teacher, so I was used to being called Mrs. Blank, but was a SAHM after he was born.
When my son began school, I always heard other children calling other parents by their first names - but I was having none of that. So I would just tell them I was Bob's mom, Mrs. Blank - and kids accepted and used it happily. So if I went to school for example and saw kids in the hall or at recess when I was volunteering, I was very happy to hear all the "Hi, Mrs. Blank!"s yelled out to me, while other moms just kinda looked on....
This form of address is not so much old-fashioned, but using the marital title is a form of respect. Once my son's friends get to know me, they KNOW I'm anything but stuffy......

Answer 8

they do in Louisiana. and I must say, I do NOT like it because thats pretty much where the respect ends. Almost as if thats all they have to do. In my personal opinion, its the parenting. Millions of things, but primarily the parenting. Parents shape their kids, they are the number one educators and influences, yet many shirk the responsibilities on school teachers, peers, professional athletes, celebrites, music stars, etc. And when things go horribly wrong, parents and society blame rockstars, rap stars, teachers, and myspace. HELLO. It starts at home. Make education and church a priority. Check your kids homework. Monitor their internet usage. If you dont like the music they listen to, take it away. Monitor their social lives, get them involved in extra curricular activities. BE INVOLVED. If they hate you, it will only be temporary. You will be doing them a huge favor and someday they will realize it. Then respect will come naturally. And just so you know, I am not directing this to you, but parents in general. I do not even know if you are a parent. I ABSOLUTELY AGREE that kids dont have respect these days. But in my opinion its a parenting issue.

Answer 9

Because we no longer have a middle class, hon.

This country is now make up of the very rich, and the really poor. Right above the really poor are the working poor -- couples who both work, and the children really don't have anyone in their daily lives except their teachers, and the television/computer. There was always disrespect among poor people, and between poor people. Now that most people are the working poor, their children don't have the benefit of mom at home. And add to the fact that television makes outlandish sexual content the norm.

Our government is now no help--- look what happened with Katrina... If you are poor and black in that city, you are now even poorer.

25 years ago, we were all middle class... I addressed all my mom's friends as Mr. or Mrs. Taught school for 25 years. Foul language was never heard in the classroom. Now, I have to remind kids that if four letter words are part of your parents' vocabulary, regularly in your house, it is not in this classroom, and it will cost you 2 hours detention, no negotiation. 25 years ago, never had to say that......

Answer 10

You answered that yourself. Children these days don't respect their elders. There is no discipline, chores, or manners this day in society. This is the whole reason behind the many school massacres, parent slayings, and so forth. We have taken GOD out of our schools and they are trying to take it out of everything because it offends people. To me it is an outrage and GOD was the one thing most of us had in common. Now there are so many religions, races, and child rearing that the United States is out of control. You and many other Americans such as myself know what would bring respect back, but we are so over populated with people who don't care, that our society will soon just fall apart.