Honey, Sweetie, Dear

I'm tired of being called cutesy little names by complete strangers. It's true that Southerners are exceedingly polite. It's also true that they are exceedingly familiar with complete strangers.

Today at the commissary I was called "Baby" by the bagger. Not once, not twice, but three times in a very short interaction. Honey, Sweetie and Dear all grate on my nerves, it's true, but to be called "Baby" by a total stranger just grosses me out. My own husband doesn't call me Baby (and he doesn't call me Erica either, it's always "Sweetie.") so why on earth should the bagger at the commissary? I don't have much problem with old women who call me by these endearments, but this woman was my age or a little older-not elderly by a long shot. I was half-tempted to reach into her tip can and take back the tip I had given her.

I also hate to be called "Ma'am." I am much too young to be a "Ma'am," right? But I'm getting used to it and my kids are getting used to using "Ma'am" and "Sir" at school. At first I thought Marissah was being sassy when she started replying to me with "yes Ma'am" but now I know she's being taught that in school. It's a respectful thing, but it doesn't make that much difference to me. Micah will probably never catch on. For the most part, social niceties have to be beaten into his head over a several-year time span before he catches on. :)

Aaron has lately taken to calling me "Chooka." He's "Wooka." It goes back to a game I used to play with Marissah and Micah when they were little where I'd give them piggy-back rides and we'd all chant "Wooka Chooka" while we ran around the house. I have no idea where "Wooka Chooka" came from, but Micah started it. Aaron thought it was so funny the first time I called him "Wooka" that it's stuck. It's the only thing I can call him except Aaron without being corrected by him.