I have been getting a lot of “yes ma’ams” lately. I am not a fan of the “ma’am” and “sir” business. I know, I live in the south but I don’t make my kids say it like most Southerners do. I should be okay with it, and I was until I got ma’am-ed. I suddenly noticed not just young bag boys, waiters, or my kids’ friends doing it. People I thought were close to my age started doing it. Should have been a sign. (Well, I took it as one to re-henna my hair anyway.)
Then, I was counting up fundraising money for the school and saw a name on a check for a fourth grade parent that made me do a double-take. It’s a unique name of a student I had when I taught high school Spanish many years ago. Yes, I’m getting a hint now.
A boy in my daughter’s class came up to me in the hall and said “Mrs. S, you look just like Miss Smith (not her real name but he meant their math teacher) but she’s younger.” I think the fact that all the teachers at my kids’ school seem to be 20 and gorgeous made me feel a little better.
I was reading a Parenting magazine while at the doctor this week and there was the cutest article on being “formerly hot.” It made me laugh out loud. The lady’s blog is hilarious and any of you nearing forty crowd (like myself) or forty-something’s will relate. She even has a checklist of signs to see if you qualify for being “formerly hot.” Too funny.
I am content with my place in life. I think my friends who I’ve seen grow up and evolve are all just more gorgeous to me. They are more at ease in their own bodies and it shows. “Hottie-mamas” as my hubby says.
The dictionary gives the definition of ma’am as:
a short form of madam, a show of respect, especially of royalty. (Not too shabby.)
And the fact that my awesome guy still gets jealous, thinking that the bag boy that just ma’am-ed me is after my bod, makes me feel so good.
The other day, the waitress (about 18) at a restaurant we frequent called me Ma'am. I clutched my chest and said "Oh Shelby, I'm too young to be a ma'am."
To which she replied "Yes, ma'am."
That's a great one, Audreya! 🙂
My husband always has a way of making me feel better. He thinks every male in a 100 mile radius wants me. 🙂 He's delusional, but I'll humor him.
And another boost to my aging self esteem…I was actually asked for my ID when I ordered a glass of wine at dinner the other night!
Awesome! I haven't been ID'd in forever… Wah.
I've been getting a lot of ma'ams lately too! And nope, I don't like it! But I love your take on it 🙂
Happy SITS day!
I ave been hearing 'ma'am' off and on for a couple of years now. It was a little surprising when I first heard it!
I don't mind being "ma'am-ed". I've always just thought it was a southern respectful thing. =)
Visiting from SITS!
A friend of mine in London calls me a yummy mommy! He said thats their term for MILF!!! I think its so cute and a lot less degrading than MILF…although its still nice to hear MILF from time to time!! LOL
found you on SITS, going to follow the blog. Love the post, had me cracking up. I call the person youngster so they get the hint that I'm not that old, LOL. I'm close to 40 and loving where I am in life, all that I accomplished and how great I look.
Nothing makes you feel more ancient than a ma'am greeting! Love this! 🙂 Happy SITS day!
My husband grew up in the south and uses the terms "sir" and "ma'am" a lot. He uses it as a sign of respect. I still hate being called ma'am!
I am not even sure if I quality for formerly hot – but I am certainly a "ma'am" now. What an adorable post!
I'm now 48. One day the kids and I went to the grocery store. It was a no makeup, hair up in a hat day. Who am I kidding, that's pretty much everyday. Anyway, the little 16 year old behind the counter asked me if I wanted the Sr. discount for people age 55 and over. Wow, what a hit to my pride. As soon as we got out to the car I told the boys, that's it, I'm coloring the grays in my hair. (Even with the hat, they were sticking out and I keep going back and forth about keeping my gray.)
Eat your heart out bag boy, this mama has still got it! LOL.
Eat your heart out bag boy, this mama has still got it! LOL.
I'm from the South and never plan to leave. My parents made me use my manners of all sorts. I plan to do the same for my children. I say ma'am and sir to people especially older than me, but I do to a few younger as well when I see fit. I was raised to see it as a sign of respect, like opening the door for someone. But that's just the way I was raised I suppose. That blog sounds really funny, I'll have to check it out.
I don't like "Yes, Ma'am" when it's an answer from a student and there's a little snarky tone to it. The first time I got ma'am was over the phone and I was 15 and a half. Didn't like it then, still don't.
awww I love that your hubby gets jealous 🙂 I'm really accustomed to calling others "sir" and "ma'am", regardless of age, due to being raised by Southern parents. But dang, when it happens me, I don't like it! LOL
I am going to cling to the ma'am as royalty idea like a life raft.
I've lived in the Deep South all my life. I never see ma'am as something for the elderly, but rather a sign up respect from the Old School. Sometimes I say it to people my age, showing respect & fondness.
In a society that has/shows so little respect for each other, somehow this small gesture gives me hope…even if it's just a facade half the time. Smile! It's your SITS day!
Hi, I'm visiting from SITS. I can totally relate to this post. I've a few instances myself that let me know, I'm not who I used to be. Although, I'm adapting as the years pass, it's taken a lot of emotional reflection to be comfortable with my new, older and mommy self. Whatever happened to the days when we felt like we would never ever get old?!
I'm not formerly hot, I am a 50 year old woman who looks good and I've lived every year of my life. That's how I do me! That's a form of respect, I'm from the midwest and some of my friends were raised that way. Happy SITS Day!
I've been ma'am'd once, and I'm not even 25 yet. Around here it's not a big saying though, so it's rare to get it no matter what the age.
You know what's funny – when I was in college, I worked at what's now Jamba Juice. Whenever I worked the register, I would always say, "Ma'am/Sir, can I help you?" automatically. It had nothing to do with how old someone was or looked per se but just force of habit. I didn't realize it was a big deal until I got ma'am-ed. Great post and happy SITS Day!
This is a fantastic/hilarious post! So glad they're featuring you on SITS! It's refreshing to hear a woman content with herself no matter how many "ma'ams" come along!! It's beautiful! 🙂
Love this! Formerly hot – this 40-something girl is very close to being 50-something so I think I better go read that post as well!
Have a great SITS day you hotty mama!
Stopping by from SITS today. I guess since I'll be 45 in a couple of months I should take a look at that article. Getting older or being called ma'am doesn't really bother me. The hardest thing for me is I expected my taste to be more mature by now, but I still love stupid movies and current pop songs. Sometimes, I'll know new stuff before my teenagers do. Oh well, it's much more fun this way!
Happy SITS Day!
Great post about that dreaded realization that you are older. Sigh. It's tough to be called ma'am.
Stopping by from SITS! 35 at my next birthday–officially thirty something right? Maybe the hardest part? All those veins showing up in my legs for the first time. GRRR.
Great post. I'd never have really made the Ma'am royalty association – but now that I know, it makes being ma'amed a royal treat!
Happy SITS day, ma'am! 😉
Excellent post! I too am bugged by the "ma'am" business! I always say that ma'am is like my mother, but she doesnt even like to be called that either! I know it's polite and all, but ugh!
Thanks for the read!
-Simone
busyasahoneybee.blogspot.com
So funny! I wonder if I qualify as "formerly hot". Hmmm… Well, I do think you should take comment you received as a compliment since all of the teachers there are 20 and gorgeous. Ha! Happy SITS Day, BTW! Look forward to reading more of your stuff. 🙂
SO funny! I live in the south, too, but I like the "ma'am" and "no ma'am"…I just worry about my kids seeming super old fashioned if I make them say it all the time 🙂
We're only as hot as we feel… and you should feel pretty doggone HOT! You're a SITS Day "comment love" recipient. And to that I say, kick back, pour yourself a glass of wine and CELEBRATE!