I'm sorry, but I just have to gripe...
What is it with this trend of calling women "Miss" and their first name? I really dislike being called "Miss Kate." First of all, I am NOT a "Miss" and secondly, Kate is my familiar nickname. I am very proudly Mrs. Scott. Calling me Mrs. Scott does not make me feel old or detached. On the other hand, "Miss Kate" makes me sound like a child and lowered in societal and respectable standards rather than the married mother that I am.
I don't want to be called Miss Kate, nor do I want my children to address adult women in that manner. Which brings up another point; men don't receive that kind of watered down respect. They get addressed properly as Mr. Smith, not Mr. John.
Unfortunately, the three greatest offenders are a close friend, my sister-in-law, and my church. My close friend, I allow her daughter to call me Kate. We've known each other for so long and she's growing into a young lady, so I have no problem with the familiar. But how do I make mention to my sister in law and to my church family that I'd rather be addressed as Mrs. Scott by children and if I'm being reffered to to children? The key here is not appearing aloof, snobby, or asking too much of someone.
Frankly, with my church family, I'd even go so far as allowing my first name. Just please, NOT Miss Kate!!!
I don't want to be called Miss Kate, nor do I want my children to address adult women in that manner. Which brings up another point; men don't receive that kind of watered down respect. They get addressed properly as Mr. Smith, not Mr. John.
Unfortunately, the three greatest offenders are a close friend, my sister-in-law, and my church. My close friend, I allow her daughter to call me Kate. We've known each other for so long and she's growing into a young lady, so I have no problem with the familiar. But how do I make mention to my sister in law and to my church family that I'd rather be addressed as Mrs. Scott by children and if I'm being reffered to to children? The key here is not appearing aloof, snobby, or asking too much of someone.
Frankly, with my church family, I'd even go so far as allowing my first name. Just please, NOT Miss Kate!!!
Comments
When I had children, it suddenly became popular to teach them to call Miss Barbara. The men were flat out called by their first names, not even Mr. Wayne. Just to clarify this was in the South (NC to be exact and I'm talking 14 years ago). I tried to teach my 2 daughters to call people Mr and Mrs. So-and-So, but they were often corrected and it became futile.
Then we moved to West Virginia. In our current church, it's Mr. and Mrs. :-)
I was raised to call people by Mr. and Mrs. but I can't tell you how many times I have been corrected by people vehemently declaring that I was 'making them feel old' by using the honorary 'Mr. or Mrs.'.
I, too, disliked the 'Miss_____' name and prefered to be called 'Mrs._____' but everytime I would request it people looked at me like I was crazy!
I'd love to hear what others have to say about this...especially if they have a solution.
And I have also seen 'Mr.(first name)' used as well.
As I said in my comment above I prefer Mr. and Mrs. (o:
One suggestion: when you introduce yourself to children, say, "I'm Mrs. Scott. What's your name?" More than likely, that child will always remember you as Mrs. Scott. After all, "Scott" isn't a difficult name to pronounce!