Quotable....

Quotable....



Robert Frost

The best way out is always through.





Wednesday, November 3, 2010

You can call me "ma'am": Random Wednesday


Hello dear friends....How about Random Wednesday?  As the title states, on Wednesdays I will post maybe, let's say a recipe, a pondering, a poll, a scripture that has impressed me and I want to share but something generally random.  I am mostly doing this as a way to keep abloggin' along and in touch with blog buddies.  I am going to post on our girls' getaway but I just got the photos from my mom and was delayed a bit.  Thanks friends for hanging in there with me.  Happy Wednesday!


"Sophia, stand over here and take a picture with Buddy, OK?"
"Yes, ma'am," Sophia
"Woof!" Buddy
I wish I could remember in which magazine I read the article.  But I DO remember the title of the article was "Don't call me Ma'am!"  In it the woman was relaying how after her move from someplace in the Northeast (US) to Texas she was barraged by the "ma'am's" from cashiers, sales people and even people her own age and disparaged the term in regards to the age it added to her.  She stated that these folk were somehow putting her down assuming she was older and especially those seemingly her age were using the term to pigeon hole her.  Hmmm

I guess I can understand this.  But then I think to my own encounters with the increased frequency of hearing "ma'am" in my general direction....and I have to say....I was pleased with the term. Maybe the difference for me was growing up in Texas and at times be referred to as a "ma'am" even as an 8 year old or so by my "elders" (you know teenagers and above) and understanding it as a polite-ness. 

Then, I distinctly recall meeting my dear hubby for the first time and noting his high frequency of referring to men and women as "sir" and "ma'am".  Was it his honeyed Texas drawl and wide smile that won me over?  Well, yeah, that is highly possible, but I KNOW for a fact that it was the respect he used with the term coupled with his easy use of "please" and "thank you".   In a time when you go to a fast food place, store, movie and instead of a "pardon me" you get a "huh?" from the employee of the joint, or when you say "Thank you" you hear a "Uh-huh" instead of "your welcome".  I would much rather hear people step up to the plate of civility and offer a "Hello, Ma'am, may I help you?" or a "You're welcome" in these days of "Whatever" being an everyday response (yes, that term drives me up the walls). 

But one more thing....My husband and I do teach the girls to use these terms of politeness in their everyday responses and yet we also address them with the same terms.  Now, don't get me wrong in thinking we are the height of following our "p's" and "q's" but we try all the way around.  So when I beckon to Anna in her room to help Sophia with something while I am cooking dinner she most times answers, "Yes, Ma'am!" and that is music to this mom's ears.

trying to mind my p's and q's,

8 comments:

A Tale of Two Cities said...

What nice manners they must have! The only time it bothers me is when young adults say "Yes mam" to me, because it makes me feel old!! Why is that?

Thank you "mam,"
Debi

Anne in Oxfordshire said...

Hello Jenny, manners are very important .. and I would brefer to here Welcome Maam or Thank you Maam than the Uhs you have to put up with.

Thank you for you lovely comment on my blog today .. it was wonderful to meet Diane, but what a shock to find that she also came from my village, and splitting her time between France and here :-) A wonderful surprise.

Jennifer K said...

Hi Jenny, your random Wednesdays idea is great. I should do something like that too. I am becoming the World's Worst Blogger. I love blogging but it always falls to the bottom of my to-do list. Plus, I've been having camera problems for months now and I feel like posts without pictures are not very interesting.

I have to admit sometimes I feel like that woman who doesn't like being called ma'am. It's because here in France, I get called madam or sometimes mademoiselle. In California, I didn't grow up saying sir or ma'am, so it's actually hard for me to address a French person with madam or monsieur and it's weird for me to hear someone addressing me as madam. It used to make me feel old to be addressed as madam instead of mademoiselle, but I'm starting to understand it better -- they're not thinking that I'm old, they're actually being extra polite. I think it's great that you are teaching the kids to talk that way!

By the way, I noticed on Facebook that it's your birthday. Happy happy birthday! Hope you have lots of fun!

Jenny said...

Debi...I always appreciate your stopping by and your shopping jaunts have sent me over the edge of swoonsville because I love housewares.

Anne!!! Maybe now you have another buddy to visit fair France with. Thank you for the chat and visit.

Jennifer K....hey there. I hope you are doing well and understand blog absences. I am here ready to read whenever you are ready to write. Glad you like the Random Wednesdays....let me see if I can stick with it. And thank you soooo much for the Facebook birthday wishes....when is your big day and hopefully I haven't missed it. Have a good week and here's hoping Paris is treating you right.

Unknown said...

You are doing a great job with your girls. I was raised to be very polite in France. I do use "sir" and "M'am"and sometimes people look at me weird. I think people forgot to have respect with people they don't know...I liked this topic ! have fun at Hobby Lobby. They have great Christmas things ! I went few days ago and it was fun !
Big hugs my friend.
Frenchy

Jennifer K said...

Me again...thanks for your comment! My birthday is April 2...I hope I'll be able to blog soon, I have been swamped lately though so I don't know...

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Jenny dearest! THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISIT! You asked about that floating castle....it is in FRANCE, no doubt! But where, I am not sure! All I know is that I want to go there and walk up the turret and look out!!!!

Thank you for coming by and that little munchkin in the photo is sweet as pie!!!! Anita

Jenny said...

Frenchy, I still haven't made it to Hobby Lobby (love it!) but paperwhites is on my list of gifts for the holidays....thanks to you. You are very kind and thanks for the encouragement.

Jennifer K, eh, we blog when we can. Thank you for the visit!

Anita, thank you for the compliment, yes, I happen to think she is apple pie sweet too! I can't wait to see your holiday posts thank you for the kind comments.

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