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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...to want DS's nursery to not use words like "ta" and "doggie"?

281 replies

Naetha · 08/03/2010 14:57

I understand the benefit of getting babies/young toddlers into the habit of saying "ta" instead of thankyou as it's easier to say, but when they're 2+ and saying thankyou perfectly well, isn't this a bit infantile?

And why doggie?? Surely dog is easier and straight to the point.

Am I just a snob?

OP posts:
ErnestTheBavarian · 09/03/2010 15:54

how much is that doggy in the window, woof woof, the one with the waggely tail ....

posieparkerfuckityfuck · 09/03/2010 16:12

hobnob.....I live in Bristol!

Besides pre school is really rather posh and school is exceptionally middle class, no childcare outside of that so we're okay.

joanneg20 · 09/03/2010 16:21

As others have said, there is an awful lot of deeply unpleasant snobbery on this thread.

Up north where I come from 'ta' is perfectly normal - for people of all social classes.

And as for doggie - for god's sake!

And whoever said they wouldn't want their daughter to go into childcare - I am gobsmacked. When I think of all the things I worry about happening to my son... if your biggest worry is that your daughter may become a nursery nurse, I suggest you might want to glance at a newspaper. I can honestly say that as long as my son chooses a career that is not dangerous or deeply immoral (e.g. drug dealer) I will be happy for him.

And I actually think childcare is a rare example of a career where the whole 'pay peanuts, get monkeys' thing is a load of nonsense. I am (as well as being modest!) very clever and well-educated but I would be terrible at childcare. Even if you paid me £100k a year, I am still an impatient person who would get easily frustrated with the children! My son's keyworker at nursery on the other hand, probably isn't very academic but is brilliant with him, kind and caring, and that's all that matters. I think a lot of people on this thread are also making the fundamental error of confusing intelligence with academic education.

Imisssleeping · 09/03/2010 16:39

I'm from ooop north and hate it when people say 'ta' - don't think it's perfectly normal at all!

I have no problem with doggie though weird as I don't say catty or birdy only doggy!

cat64 · 09/03/2010 16:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

TiggyD · 09/03/2010 19:30

Oi !

PLEASE remember that men work in childcare too you know! will everybody stop referring to the staff as the girls and talking about their daughters working in childcare.

Carry on.

Rockbird · 09/03/2010 20:36

True Tiggy. DD's keyworker is a man

cookielove · 09/03/2010 20:57

I work in childcare, i am not thick, i am well educated, i love my job, i love seeing little people grow and develop into wonderful characters.

I could of done lots of other things, but i choose childcare.

The pay is poor, although i am getting a better rate then most, but as others have said, we don't do it for the money.

lovechoc · 09/03/2010 22:10

"This thread is actually about class, not levels of education."

you are right there, amber1979!! without a doubt. It seems you talk a lot of sense unlike many others on this thread.

Dialects are dying out in a lot of areas now, it's very sad to see. We all need to encourage the 'ta's' a bit more I think.

sparklefrog · 09/03/2010 22:33

I agree cat64 but didn't quite know how to put it into words.

My DD, 19 months says few words and has difficulty even saying 'Ta', but I know what she means, she knows what she means, and until she is older and better able to express herself vocally, 'Ta' will do fine for me, Ta very much.

sunshine2009 · 09/03/2010 22:47

Well said Cookie Love - I love being in childcare as I spend all my time with my child and get paid for the privilege. I see everything a Stay at home mum sees, but make money and have a career at the same time. I dont have any of the issues of being separated from my child that working mums often complain about and I dont have any of the boredom and loneliness Stay at Home mums often complain about.

It is like one big community with all the staff and children. For all the money in the world there is nothing I would rather be doing.

scottishmummy · 09/03/2010 22:49

not all working mums have separation issues. i happily trot off to work.im not separated im only at work.i do return

sunshine2009 · 09/03/2010 22:53

Scottishmummy - I am not saying they do I went back to my uni course after my child was 10 days old and wasnt bothered in the slightest. I have never once cried at being separated from her cause it was only through the day but all I am saying is there are many benefits to being in childcare. I was just highlights thinks that I have seen a lot of mums complain about on here and by being a nursery worker I get to be part of it all which I love.

I would never be ashamed of my child or anyone being a nursery worker as there are a wealth of benefits, not everything is about making loads of money

lovechoc · 09/03/2010 22:53

sunshine2009 it sounds like you have the best of both worlds!! It must be great to be around your DC but also be working at the same time

scottishmummy · 09/03/2010 22:55

i have been very fortunate having stable well run nursery since baby room.made achievable by excellent staff

lovechoc · 09/03/2010 22:56

"not everything is about making loads of money"

I wholeheartedly agree with this. money can't buy you happiness.

scottishmummy · 09/03/2010 22:57

money doesnt buy happiness but being poor is shite and makes you unhappy.so given choice id rather be rich and unhappy than poor and unhappy

lovechoc · 09/03/2010 22:59

I'd rather be somewhere in the middle and happy.

scottishmummy · 09/03/2010 23:00

well if it isnt a straight choice.yes middle is compromise

onagar · 09/03/2010 23:01

No time to read the whole thread now, but 'Ta' is what we say where I come from. To say it is not acceptable is no better than criticising the French for not speaking English. This IS our language. You may prefer yours, but it is no more right than ours is.

So yes a snob.

onagar · 09/03/2010 23:22

Actually I made the mistake of reading more of it.

The reference to "weirdo baby language" is insulting and displays an ignorance of how language works and about regional variations.

I see further on the problem is that it sounds 'common'. I don't know what that is supposed to mean in these modern times. We're supposed to be more enlightened that that these days. Do the people using it mean "if we speak that way they may mistake us for working class?"

thumbwitch · 10/03/2010 00:43

probably more likely to be the "sponging layabout" class than the "working class", given the way some people's minds work, Onagar. I can't find the emoticon to express exactly how that is meant, but it's not how I think, just how some other posters on this thread appear to think.

Fibilou · 10/03/2010 07:13

I loathe baby talk with a passion. Unfortunately MIL seems unable to use normal words with DD which I find highly irritating

sunshine2009 · 10/03/2010 07:26

scottish mummy - Im not poor. We have a mortgage, 2 holidays a year, nights out, meals out, flat screen tv, sky etc. If both of you work minimum wage jobs its easy to afford all that. Its about being good with money and being able to know where to get things cheaper.

When we were both in the forces we were making over double the money but were way poorer as we bought a load of useless rubbish on impulse as we werent happy. Now I have everything I need, fulfilling job and family I dont feel the need to waste money on shopping though. Its the best decision I have ever made. You cant buy back time.

sunshine2009 · 10/03/2010 07:41

Also it helps I have a practically full time nursery place at a fantastic nursery for £200 a month because I am friends with the owner lol ;)