Saying "ta" instead of "thank you"

[saffstel]

Dd2 (10 months) is staring nursery in a couple of weeks. We did an intro hour yesterday.

Her key worker (who was also dd1's key worker) says 'ta' to the children when she hands them toys, food, etc.

This is a pet hate of mine and it annoyed me when she did it with DD1.

Wibu of me to ask her to say "thank you" instead of "ta"? The discussion sounds really petty when I have it in my head, but I really, really hate "ta".

[SwedishEdith]

I wouldn't say anything, no. I don't like it when someone makes a point of saying "ta" to children, very deliberately. But, I use "ta" all the time in my own speech so I'd be a huge hypocrite to criticise someone else for it.

[UptheChimney]

I lost the battle on saying 'lavatory' instead of 'toilet' years ago. You're on a hiding to nothing. I still wince when DS says 'toilet' but oh well ...

[pinkgirlythoughts]

DS has always said thank you, despite nursery staff and inlaws' best attempts to get him to say ta! Really gets my goat when FIL hands him something and goes 'taaaaaa' before he'll give it to him- DS just gives him a bit of an odd look, then says 'thank-ooo' and walks off!

[pinkgirlythoughts]

What SwedishEdith said. That's why I don't like it!

[Crowler]

I hate it, and don't understand it.

But I'm not English.

[estya]

If it's your regional dialect, fine. But here in the South East it's baby talk, like referring to your child as bubba and it makes my spine crawl.
16mo says tata when he is trying to pronounce thank you. I don't feel the need to start repeating tata to him.

[SwedishEdith]

I don't think I've ever met a RL person who actually says lavatory .

Yes, yes, yes, it's that "taaaaaaaa" before handing over the goods I don't like.

[SingSongSlummy]

Don't worry too much - my DD's nursery and childminder did this to and I hated it, but mine never said 'ta' they just started off with 'ank-ooo' and progressed from there. I suspect it's a regional thing but it's definitely considered common down south, and I can't believe a previous poster said that they use it at work! IMO an adult using it to another adult is really cringeworthy.

[KatnipEvergreen]

I felt ok in teaching my kids "ta" when they were little, because I'm secure in my social status and never fear being thought of as common, as I know I'm not.

Plus the fact where I grew up it was perfectly normal and not "common".

[KatnipEvergreen]

I think I'm going to start using it down south to adults to piss off the southern softies.

[WitchWay]

I always used the proper adult pronunciation when talking to DS. he said Ta-tu then Tank-oo then Thank-oo & finally Thank You by the age of about three. Hate baby talk - bloody hate it!

[GhoulWithADragonTattoo]

Ta was totally normal where I grew up (W. Yorks), even to a teacher or at work. I still say it now even though live down south. My DCs both started with ta but moved onto thank you as speech improved.

I really wouldn't worry about it being used by nursery. At my DC's nursery they would say "He done this, she done that" rather than "did". I was worried the DCs would pick it up but they really haven't, I guess because DH and I don't say it.

[tyaca]

i'm not common and I've always lived in the South East.

I have never ever thought of Ta as baby speak. It's just like cheers, innit.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Mmm. I'm in the South East, still hear plenty of people saying 'ta'. Maybe we're all 'common'. But even if that's so, does it really matter?

It could be much worse. Someone on here a while ago admitted to having a toddler who pronounced it 'wanker'.

(Actually, I lie, I would love a toddler who responded 'wanker' all the time, but I have a childish sense of humour.)

[DaPrincessBride]

My friend used to encourage 'thank you' with her baby DD - she switched to 'ta' pretty quickly when she realised it came out as 'fuck you'...

[olympicsrock]

Don't say anything or you will be known as the snotty mother. I dislike ta but at least they are trying to teach manners. Our key worker said ta, we say thank you and DS 2 also says thank you. They will copy you.

[HappyTalking]

Everyone in my house says 'ta'. Maybe we are a bit very common.

[GhoulWithADragonTattoo]

DaPrincess - I think you may have hit upon the reason why people use ta to babies!

[SPsMrLoverManSHABBA]

I'm common as shit and it isn't because I say ta

[LEMmingaround]

The discussion that you are having in your head - listen to it, its petty! I live in the south too. I say thank-you, not ta, my DD says thank-you , not ta, but she did was she was 3. I bet you want everyone to say vagine as well don't you?

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

That's even better princess.

[LEMmingaround]

So please don't talk to your DS's key worker - she will think you are a wanker, she really will.

[PrimalLass]

Oh jeezy peeps, something else I do that annoys people

[lilyaldrin]

Oh don't be so ridiculous!

I hope you do mention it to the nursery actually, it will give them a good laugh in the staff room and let them know exactly what kind of parent you are

[Bowlersarm]

This is going to be one of those things that divides MNers and will spiral into a bunfight

YANBU to hate 'ta'. I can't bear it. It sounds so tacky.

However I don't think you should say anything. I don't think you should cause her embarrassment about it. It's only one person. It'll pass.