Little Minx

Perhaps some sons are not inclined to be so specific where their mums are concerned, Mishap and Grannyknot. Yes, it may be old-fashioned...

I think my son would have said something like, "it's ok Mum. It doesn't matter". And practically patted me on the head.

Minx is the sort of word my grandmother would use and you couldn't get much more prim and proper than her!

I'm afraid we all regularly refer to GS1 & 2 as monkey boys because that is how they behave

(sorry, that was to jingl, but you can share it, Deeda!)

DS would have said, 'Mum, you can't say that any more'

I would have said, 'Why ever not?'

And we'd have had a laugh about it but the point would have been taken.

Hope it all gets smoothed out, Thistledoo. Least said, soonest mended.

Oh heck, the PC police will be really gunning for us, we often call our dear GS a cheeky monkey. He is a gorgeous mischievous four year old. He is also mixed race. I have never thought that a term we applied to our own children with love and affection could be construed as wrong but thinking about it, I would not use it of another child who was black or mixed race. Sounds trite, but we do not see colour when we look at him, just our much loved GS. I think it is all about intent and personally I never thought of Minx in any other way than as in Minnie the Minx. So I would have transgressed too Thistledoo
If you really want to see how words have changed meaning try Glory Hole on the younger generation. To us I expect it is the bit under the stairs where old shoes and tennis racquets go to die. However it now has a much less salubrious meaning involving public toilets with holes in the walls. As my friends found out when they advertised for a decorator to sort out their glory hole. It was a cupboard under the stairs, honestly

Whatever next! Can't even call my messy cupboard a Glory Hole any more.

DH got annoyed if I used the term 'tosser', I thought it meant someone who was an idiot who came out with stupid remarks, but he explained carefully that it was not. Still a useful term for one or two of his friends, though.

Yes, that Iolo, I just can't spell.

Thistledoo, I hope that this situation will soon blow over. I don't know why your son should be so prickly over what was a completely innocent remark and surely he should know you well enough to realise that you wouldn't dream of using bad language to or about your GD. However, if he is still ignoring you, could your DH perhaps have a conciliatory word with him and explain that you had no idea that you could be so misconstrued.

rosequartz My freind who emigrated to Canada a couple of years ago was admonished by the removal men who delivered the goods she had shipped over, when she used the expression "glory hole* about part of a room.

You could try showing him this link, Thistledoo:

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/jul/20/beano-75-year-anniversary where it mentions that Minnie the Minx takes on Andy Murray.

Or just leave it, but sometimes it is best not swept under the carpet.

Good luck

Nelliemoser, I am intrigued. And I am still wondering about the hole in the wall of the toilet.

Leave it! Sweep it under the carpet!!

Peace and Love !!!!!!!

I should not have looked it up. and

And I have come across all sorts of stories in my working life.

I have always referred to my small cellar (one-time coal cellar, before my time) as my glory hole. Now I know better. Continuing education!

I've just looked up various definitions of cheeky monkey and haven't found a racist connection.

Thanks Ana and Mishap for explaining what tosser means. That's what I like about Gransnet you can get a straight answer.

I wonder how often we are inadvertently shocking our children with our filthy language! I,m scared to speak now! I can imagine how hurt you must have been - hope it blows over.

On a lighter note I remember an old lady describing how she vacuumed her hallway " I've just been hoovering my back passage". (!)

Thistle lots of good advice on here. Two I think are worth combining.
I'd email him (give you time to choose your words and him to think them over) and when you've explained what the word meant to you finish by asking him to say 'Mum you can't use words like that anymore!' as you are getting on a bit and not up to date with modern meanings and don't want to upset the vicar when he comes to tea.

Don't apologise though. If you can turn this into something to be laughed at it will clear the air...even if the joke is on you.

By way of light relief, but at the risk of offending GNetters from Yorkshire

words that have a totally different meaning in Yorkshire

I once said the F word very loudly in front of my grandkids. The airport transport minibus was outside , I picked up my hand luggage and everything fell out because it was not zipped up. I was forgiven.
Never any harm apologising though. Sometimes we are silly old grandparents who have not moved with the times and inadvertently do awful things. (like putting the baby in the cot at the top not the bottom, picking them up without turning off the baby alarm, feeding them with a SPOON etc etc etc)

Minx is nothing compared to what I would have called him!!

An elderly neighbour told her teenaged GCs that the man who lives next door is always helpful when she needs a screw! They didn't enlighten her, but had fun spreading the tale!

JessM There are times when that term is forgiveable and that was most surely one of them.

Thank you all so much for all your comments and amusing examples, I haven't laughed so much for ages. Hovering the back passage, was hilarious. DH wants DS and DDil to give us a list of all the words that are not to be used in front of DGC. He thinks that will give them something to really think about. We have a one year old cat who had had problems with his litter box and often lands up with smelly trousers so we have to bath him, he is now known as Stinky Pants. Obviously that will need to change now. I must admit I will now feel a bit tense when looking after them just in case I am caught by a slip of the tongue.
I will feel as though I am on constant supervision, Not good.