They Call Me Mrs. Treacy (And I Hate It)

I just can’t stand it. I feel like it is almost a bad word. I feel like when you call me that name, it is just to be mean. It is a sign of age, and it makes me feel so old.

You know if you have made the mistake with me before, and it is not likely you will call me Mrs. Treacy again after your first error.

I get it. It is intended to be a sign of respect. Some parents teach their children to do it from day one. They say you should call your friends’ parents by Mr. and Mrs. I, on the other hand, cannot stand it.

Don’t get me wrong. If a child’s parents demand that my children call them by Mr. So-and-so and Mrs. Proper, then so be it. I wouldn’t want them to feel uncomfortable. But no child that comes into my house will call me by that name. Yuck!

Yes, I suppose it mostly has to do with age. I don’t like how it sounds. It is something that means “You are somebody’s mom.” If you aren’t a teacher or a principal, then I haven’t a clue why you’d want to hear that title from a child’s mouth.

I know the kids that try and pull that around me only mean it in a respectful manner. But they haven’t done it since—just ask them.

If I am not about to accept it from my children’s friends, I surely don’t want to ever hear it in the workplace—and most definitely not in public. If you think dubbing me “Mrs.” is bad, you should feel very sorry for one that tries “Ma’am.”

I had a dedicated employee who just couldn’t break the habit. My husband kindly reminded him that if he didn’t break the habit, he might find something else broken instead. Of course, he was kidding. No, I don’t threaten anyone with serious violence, but I really do hate it. (That employee compromised with me and agreed to just call me “Boss” instead.)

I don’t feel like I am old enough to be Mrs. or Ma'am. I feel like that is what my parents were called. Mrs. is a name and title that comes with age, and I don’t want to be that age … ever.

How do you teach your kids? I have instructed my kids to defer to the parents of the house. If they ask to be called by “Mr. and Mrs.,” by all means, please be respectful. Don’t forget to say “please” and “thank you.” Take your shoes off when you get in the door. You should honor the rules of that house.

In the same vein, if I ask not to use that word with me, please allow your children to agree. Just call me Melissa.