Little Miss Annoyed.

[brdgt]

OK moms of daughters, in particular, but everyone else too. Is it just me or is calling little girls "Miss [first name]" really weird. Please correct me so I can be less cranky. Or agree with me so I can feel righteous. Whatevs.

Comments

[resurgam.livejournal.com]

I need context. My mom always taught me that in correspondence a title should be used on the envelope, so my letters to my BFF were to Miss Sherry Heck. But that doesn't seem like what you are talking about.

[h-loves-c.livejournal.com]

Definitely not in the 3rd person because...that's weird, but I do call her Miss Miette (or Miss Mimi, or Miss Crawford) sometimes, when addressing her directly. E.g., "Ok, Miss Miette, let's go to bed now."

[mizrobot]

I've never heard the third person usage you describe but my mom STILL calls me Miss Maggie to this day sometimes (or rather, Ms. Maggie, since she is a feminist). I don't think it is supposed to mean anything; the alliteration just sounds nice. She called my sister "Little Bit" for some reason.

[loreofcure.livejournal.com]

It reminds me of my homeland. Make of that what you will.

[alineskirt.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I say Miss every now and then, and Mr., just as a little affectionate nickname or something, for both kids, not just my girl. Doesn't seem too strange. For adult females, I always say Ms.

[pot-t-mouth.livejournal.com]

Definitely Southern. I was called Miss Guphy constantly in Louisiana.

[kickarse.livejournal.com]

I haven't heard that but I think I might disassociate myself from anyone who spoke about the kids in a weird manner like that! Sometimes people will refer to the girls as Miss Ruby or Miss Vivian, but only if they're being playful and talking to them directly, like if one of them is dressed up fancy. I think their ballet teacher used to do that sometimes. But not like what you are saying. I think I'm baffled by the concept though.

[kazoogrrl.livejournal.com]

I do sometimes, to kids I know well, in a formality-as-affection way.* I grew up calling adults Mr./Mrs/Miss. Last Name (for people I did not know well) and usually Aunt/Uncle First Name for non-related adults who were family friends. I think in my head Ms is an adult term, I've never really thought about it. Some of my friends refer to me and Justin and Miss/Mister to their kids, and sometimes Aunt/Uncle (actually, he's Uncle Ding0, an old burner nickname that has stuck around).

I'm from MD, as is my mom, and my dad's from VT. Most of the family and friends we spent time with growing up were from MD or the South.

* I do the same thing to animals, too, so it could be just a me thing.

[delqc.livejournal.com]

We say miss mathilda or mister (or young master) Tobias ... But not past age 10... Well we don't say it that often to our own kids but often to my nieces & nephews. And they say it to my kids. We don't find it objectionable. But NOT in the third person. That's weird.

[joeychen.livejournal.com]

It's not an Australian thing for sure! like kazoogrrl it was mr/mrs/miss for not well knowns, and aunt/uncle for family,friends

[moon-lemming.livejournal.com]

I call my kids/stepdaughter "Miss X" when I write cards to them etc. (I remember liking that when I was a kid) but I've never done it out loud, in person. And I think third-person Miss-ing is creepy. My grandma calls my kids "Miss X" when she talks to them, like, "Good morning, Miss Peaches!" but she is one of my more southern relatives.