Comments for Don't Put Lizards In Your Ears

Comment on A Mom By Any Other Name by norine

norine — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:05:50 +0000

Anything is better than “ma’am” another Southern custom I’ve had to get used to … and that makes me feel about 80 years old. I’m a late in life mom, but not that late in life!

Comment on A Mom By Any Other Name by Hope

Hope — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:58:37 +0000

Norine, I also went to a very progressive school (outside Wash, DC), so I was used to calling teachers by their first names. It never seemed strange to me that I addressed my teachers one way and my parents’ friends another.

I like that Southern custom of Miss Hope, etc.
Maybe I should start a movement!

Comment on A Mom By Any Other Name by norine

norine — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:23:49 +0000

Hope, thank you very much for reading and commenting. (BTW, I enjoy your She Writes groups!) Growing up I called all of my parents’ friends by their last names, (except one couple we were especially close to, who was more like family), but I went to a very progressive elementary/middle school and called many of my teachers by their first names. For our son, now 6, we’ve picked up the Southern custom of saying Miss First Name or Mr. First Name as a sign of respect. So our nanny was Miss Meghan. Friends we’re very close with, like our childhood or college friends, are all Auntie and Uncle. Interestingly, I cannot get my son’s teacher to just call me Norine. He insists on Mrs. Dworkin-McDaniel, which I know is quite a mouthful for everyday use. Thanks again for commenting!

Comment on A Mom By Any Other Name by Hope

Hope — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:07:34 +0000

You have a good point. I think everyone is trying to act casual and friendly, as if polite formality is too cold. Yet I would prefer a few more gradations of respect–or of levels of acquaintance.

Not too long ago, we moved from NYC to upstate NY. In the city, my children called all their friends’ parents by their first names. Up here, friends’ parents are Mr/Mrs/Ms/Dr. It has taken some getting used to; but I smile realizing that I still call my parents friends’ by their last names, even though I am now in my mid-forties.

Comment on A Mom By Any Other Name by norine

norine — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:40:37 +0000

Thank you Barbara! I appreciate your reading and taking the time to comment!

Comment on A Mom By Any Other Name by Barbara Judd

Barbara Judd — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:35:43 +0000

Good news. I do not remember being called….anyone’s mom.. Of course, that was almost half a century ago. And, with four children under five, it would be easier to remember my name. Perhaps, the pendulum will swing back.. You go girl.. I like your energy.

Comment on A Mom By Any Other Name by norine

norine — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:45:01 +0000

Thanks Jodi for reading and commenting.

Comment on A Mom By Any Other Name by norine

norine — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:44:23 +0000

I kinda like Don Juan De Dworkin! Thanks!!

Comment on A Mom By Any Other Name by norine

norine — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:39:32 +0000

Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment, Cindy. Much appreciated. I too despise “ma’am” but learned to suck it up when someone clued me that it was a Southern sign of respect. We were at the cardiologist’s office earlier this week and the receptionist called me Mom. This time, I in a calmer fashion, I asked if, given the fact that we’ve been patients in the practice since my son’s birth 6 years ago, she knew my name. When she said she did, I asked her (nicely) to please call me that from now on. We have another appointment next week. We’ll see if it sticks!
Thanks so much for reading!

Comment on A Mom By Any Other Name by Perry M. Dworkin

Perry M. Dworkin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:37:10 +0000

I share your point. I tell ALL my physician’s front desk people that I want to be called either Dr. Dworkin or even Mr. Dworkin until we have established a more personal relationship. At one office I slowly rose from my seat and asked the young lady, “Do we knoww each other?, have I ever asked you to dine with me? , No? Then please address me with a more appropriate honorific”. I mentioned this at a gathering of medical professionals and got a surprizing answer. “We do this for patient confidentiality, in some cases we have to call patients by number only”. Wow, thank you Donna Shalala. Maybe I will go to the office wearing a mask and sign in as Don Juan De Dworkin. Or is that carrying confidentiallity a bit to far?.