AIBU for not wanting my child to be called "cheeky monkey" by the staff at a nursery every time they greet him?

[ekatk]

My DS is 3.5 and is quite an active child and lately I noticed that one of the staff members at the nursery calls him "cheeky monkey" every time she sees him. I don't want him to feel "branded" with this and think that it's a norm to call someone this word all the time, cause someone might consider this offencing. Should I talk to the nursery staff or AIBU? What would you do?

Non-native English, seriously? Plenty of native people can't spell.

I wouldn't say it just about spelling @toomanyy

Read it aloud and hear the grammar and rhythm of it.

Haha I call my own son monkey. He's a similar age and it's not branding it's just an affectionate term

It sounds like native English to me. What bits sound foreign to you?

The 'offencing' is likely a typo for 'offensive'.

I would be taken aback if the child was a person of colour, you don't have to be a genius to work out why cheeky monkey might be offensive to them/ their parents even if unintentional.

But otherwise it's a term of endearment that generally means "cute" rather than naughty/rude. I called both mine cheeky monkeys though for some reason my youngest also got called cheeky worm!

This has got to be a joke?🤣

if not, I feel so sorry for all the misery workers/Teachers if this is what they’re up against!

This with bells on:

“LightDrizzle · Today 12:17
I do feel sorry for people working in schools and childcare these days.

On the one hand they are firefighting issues with the products of 3rd generation poor parenting who arrive at nursery and school never having sat at a table; had a regular bedtime; or been read a story. Then they have to accommodate parents nitpicking at every tiny thing they could possibly take offence at.”

Kids starving
Living in poverty
People stressed
Cost of living and wealth distribution issues.
Cancers through the ceiling
Funding through the floor

So many huge issues in the world... But a kid being greeted warmly with a very common nickname for a child by a member of staff at a nursery.. thats the big issue, root of all ills of the world...

I don't think it's worth weakening the relationship with the nursery and his key workers over something like this.

Unclench

Maybe I was wrong @toomanyy - IDK. I'm not going to dissect it on the thread.

There was also the term time holiday thread and one or two others and they seemed of a piece to me.

I'm less keen there's that thing of branding a child as a personality type. I wouldn't want for my child labelled a specific way.

I wouldn't be annoyed but I would politely ask them to stop.

This is an excellent point. I am a health care professional and call children cheeky monkey/poppet/sweetie/little one, plus any number of other terms. I remember once very nearly saying it to a black child and caught myself in time. I was horrified that I could so nearly have caused offence and landed myself in big trouble, rightfully so had the parent complained. The parent would've had no idea I called all children that as I am 1:1 with the family rather than in a nursery setting.

I have tried to stop saying it to anyone now to minimise the risk of upsetting anyone. I'm surprised the nursery staff in your situation are saying it tbh!

Is that you, Hiacynth Bouquet?

I would gladly be that parent. My DC weren't called it because they were girls.

It irritates me to see it on clothing. It is gender stereotyping.
Same goes for Dude, Devil, Angel and Princess.

My 3yo gets Rascal from her favourite nursery worker. They're right, she is! Let's just say we're working hard on her listening ears.

When lovely X calls her Rascal, it's clear to me that she sees the good in DD, it's done very affectionately. I love it tbh, and so does DD.

That's so cute, I love it 😂

Huh? Cheeky monkey is for both boys and girls. As is little tinker. I have used them on boys, girls, cats and dogs. Maybe even the odd squirrel, fox or hedgehog (of unknown sex).

Me too. Also known as “trouble” (as he absolutely is!)

I call my DDs cheeky monkeys.

But I wouldn't ever buy them a slogan t shirt with nauseatingly cutesy stuff like "daddy's princess" or "little angel" on it, so I do agree with you there.

Unless he is racial minority then it is fine

Isn't that racist in itself?

This really isn't offensive. Pick your battles.

I'm going to go against the grain and am on the side of the OP

You're being oversensitive, you really need to get over it or parenting is going to be a nightmare for you 🤦

There are multiple nurseries and pre-schools across the country that are called Cheeky Monkeys. That's how inoffensive a phrase, and applied to pretty much all children that it is.