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AIBU?

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Original poster

To call your children "kids"?

89 replies

VIX1980 · 03/01/2013 11:06

I was in a shop i volunteer in yesterday morning helping out on the till when a family of 3 adults and 4 children came in.

the adults were paying no attention to the children, letting them pick everything up and throw the toys about on the floor trying to play with them. I noticed 1 of the boys (around 4-5) was eating a cream cake, as we dont allow any food in the shop but he had about 1 more bite left i just watched to make sure he wasnt putting it verywere as he was covered in cream all over his hands and on his coat. When he had the last bit in his mouth i looked over to the adults who locked in conversation about some curtains.

They were no more than 2 feet away from the till where i was so i said to them, is it k if i give him a baby wipe so he can clean his hands?, they ignored me, so i asked again moving closer, Is that your little boy, is it ok to give him a baby wipe, again i was ignored, i said excuse me are these your children? nothing still.

So i finally went over and said sorry to bother you are those your kids over there? I didnt even get time to finish my sentence before one of them screamed in my face not to call them kids, they are children, and with that she took a load of clothes of the rails threw them on the floor and stormed out the shop followed closely by the rest of them, then i watched through the window as the mother mouthed to me "ill have you".

I walked to the door and shouted over to her what are you going on about and she came over and had a go at me for calling her little kids "kids".

Would you be offended if someone called your children "kids"? I dont get it to be honest?

OP posts:
diddl · 03/01/2013 12:18

She absolutely overreacted but since I don´t like it, I´d never call other people´s children "kids".

And tbh I´d certainly have avoided it in your situation even if I didn´t mind it.

ChippingInLovesChristmasLights · 03/01/2013 12:19

I have a family friend who hates the term 'kids' - she blathers on about them not being baby goats... but she would be FAR more disgusted by that womans tantrum!

Manager sounds barking too!

Thank god you don't have to go back!!

EllenParsons · 03/01/2013 12:23

I don't see anything wrong with kids and even if she doesn't like it that is one huge and inappropriate over reaction! She sounds crazy. Can't believe your manager told you off either.

LadySybilPussPolham · 03/01/2013 12:35

Definitely on the rob. That makes complete sense of her actions

LAlady · 03/01/2013 12:40

I hate the word kids and never use it. I would only use it to describe baby goats. However, the reaction sounds extreme to say the least.

popcornpaws · 03/01/2013 12:40

She sounds off her head to be fair, however, I also don't like the term kids and would never use it.

Ephiny · 03/01/2013 12:46

Creating a diversion for shoplifting purposes is the only 'reasonable' explanation I can think of tbh.

Even people who really hate the term surely don't react like that (screaming, threatening, throwing stuff around) when they hear it! I can't believe in that as a genuine/spontaneous reaction.

BabysPointlessPocket · 03/01/2013 12:58

We call ours dustbin lids Grin

Ywnbu
She was out of order.

WhoWhatWhereWhen · 03/01/2013 13:04

Ephiny stole the words out of my mouth

LaCiccolina · 03/01/2013 14:00

I'm with u op, baffled by this woman's and some here's views to an innocuous word. Very strange.

skratta · 03/01/2013 14:03

Oh, I always use 'kids'. When I'm not just talking spontaneously, then I won't, so on here I usually will write 'children' for instance (although sometimes I still write kids). I don't really know why though. Blush

I don't know why she'd be so angry, a complete overreaction and I hope you told the person who owned the charity shop (I'm guessing its a charity shop btw, because you said you volunteer?), in case they can do something about it.

Quenelle · 03/01/2013 14:03

I don't think it would have mattered how you referred to her children. Don't give it another thought. Definitely keep an eye on them if they ever come in your shop again though.

chocoluvva · 03/01/2013 14:04

I call my children 'kids'.
Just seems less formal than 'children' especially now they're teenagers.

TheUnsinkableTitanic · 03/01/2013 14:06

i always tell this story -

i was working with a community group many years ago and i used the term kids

one member of the group went off on one and lectured me for approx 20 mins on what a derogatory term it was

i smiled sweetly and took my 5k funding to another group

(rest of group were mortified but not enough to speak up in front of him, they all apologised at the end)

elizaregina · 03/01/2013 14:09

Op I have been Xmas Grin at your description, espeically

" then i watched through the window as the mother mouthed to me "ill have you"."

It sounds more like a French and Saunders sketch or something.

I really dont like the word kids myself - it slips out occasionally and feels very odd, however I am astounded by thier reaction...you poor thing!

I agree with others - they may have been on the rob...

Fakebook · 03/01/2013 14:10

Kids, kiddies, lambs, anklebiters, rugrats, bairns, sprogs, sprouts, babes, cubs and a whole lot more are just other words for children. I don't really get all worked up by the word "kid". The woman was obviously a weirdo.

PanickingIdiot · 03/01/2013 14:14

Good grief!

I've heard/read/seen people routinely refer to their own children as sprog, brat and spawn and nobody seems to bat an eyelid. "Kid" has been a perfectly acceptable synonym to "child" for as long as I remember. I wonder how many people (native English-speakers) even know its original meaning.

I certainly prefer it to the DC nonsense that goes on here.

squoosh · 03/01/2013 14:50

Anyone who objects to the term 'kids' is completely bizarre and ridiculous.

That woman's behaviour went beyond bizarre and ridiculous.

EmpressMaud · 03/01/2013 14:52

I wouldn't use the term 'kids' personally, but I certainly wouldn't object to others using it.

Yanbu.

tittytittyhanghang · 03/01/2013 14:56

I wonder is the mother was a mner who was professional offended on behalf of goats? I say mner because I have never in rl met anyone who batted an eyelid at the word kid.

Also on checking the oxford dictionary interesting to see what the first entry is :)

oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/kid?q=kid

GrumpySod · 03/01/2013 14:57

HA! Bunch of hypocrites most you lot. I have been at sharp end of snippy remarks on MN for referring to "kids". Even if Prince Charles himself uses the word on occasion to refer to his own.

I think QuickQuick & Ephiny have it right, the family were up to something sneaky & didn't like any confrontation no matter how mild. Just feel sorry for them, it's the best you can get out of what happened.

"Kids" is a bit too nice for my lot. Blood sucking whinging toerags would be much more accurate.

LuluMai · 03/01/2013 14:59

They were probably trying to nick stuff and tried to divert your attention by throwing a strop.

AWimbaWayInaManger · 03/01/2013 15:18

The term kid has been a colloquial expression for a young person since the 1500s, it would never occur to me that someone might find it offensive. I use it all the time, it sounds friendly and less formal than children. The woman was slightly odd op.

MrsMelons · 03/01/2013 16:39

She is crazy - ridiculous!

Aniseeda · 03/01/2013 17:54

She was an unpleasant character who would have thrown a wobbly whatever you said.

I don't especially like the term 'kids' and avoid using it myself but it doesn't offend me if others use it and I'd certainly never behave like that even if someone said 'are those your filthy little urchins messing up my shop?!'