Little Minx

According to the Cambridge English Dictionary, 'minx' means 'a girl or young woman who knows how to control other people to her advantage'; the Oxford Dictionary appears to have never heard of the word; the Urban Dictionary it means Cheeky or mischievous girl.

As I felt puzzled, I also checked internetslang.com (if there was to be any likely offender, it would be internet usage/slang) and they also say that minx is a cheeky or mischievous girl.

Am I looking in the wrong dictionaries

Had my son reacted that way regarding a 23 month old little girl, I would have been seriously angry with him that he would think I would use a derogatory term for my own granddaughters - he wouldn't have left without saying goodbye, he'd have left with a flea in his ear for being so rude.

I also wouldn't tolerate him messing with his phone either - completely unacceptable behaviour when visiting, he might just as well say out loud that he'd bored!

You have absolutely nothing to feel bad about Thistledoo - you have used the word the way most of us would use it; you can't be held responsible for people who don't understand word usage.

I would have felt awful too Thistledoo, because like you I would have used the word in all innocence. I was thinking today how easy it is to use words without knowing how the young use them, and how easy to make a faux pas.
Having said that, it is your son who should apologise to you for grossly overreacting and upsetting you like that.
Having said that, that is how family rifts can start, by expecting and demanding apologies, so what I would do in your place is apologise once again for having used an inappropriate word, but let him know how very upset you are, that you upset him.
I hope he sends you a lovely by way of apology - you don't deserve such treatment.

It was unintentional and accidental, whereas sitting playing games on your 'phone in company is intentionally rude.

Very upsetting, Thistle, I think I would have cried ,too. but maybe there's more to this than meets the eye. Was the children's mother there too? You don't mention her.

Minnie the Minx is still in the Beano comic. No way is she intended to be as your son seemed to think. Buy him a copy. Tell him it might loosen him up to have a laugh.

Your son was being unreasonable, Thistledoo and very rude to leave without saying goodbye.

I wouldn't have known what he was angry about either.

No matter what the current definitions of the word in dictionaries may be, it is usually used (with "little" in front) to mean cheeky or mishcheivous. Is he usually this up himself precious with his children?

That seems a very harsh, unkind reaction, over reaction in fact from your son Thistle.
I've just read the various definitions and like you I had no idea the word could be used in any other way than in a lighthearted way. Like Minnie the Minx, of course from comic days. But surely your son realises this too? Does he often look for an excuse to behave so badly?
How rude not to even say goodbye.
For you.

And tell him to out his phone away next time he's visiting!

X posts Kitty

I would have used the word before I read this and checked the meaning, I won't now! Words do move on in their acceptability and he has a right to ask you not to use this word to his daughter. BUT he should have said this to you calmly, in private and as for going home without saying goodbye? Very poor show! Can you ring him - explain you meant no harm, won't do it again but that you were upset by his childish reaction

Oh poor you Thistle. It seems a bit over the top to leave without saying goodbye. I remember Minnie the Minx, I think it was, so I wouldn't think anything about it either. It was obviously said in a loving way so I think your DS would have been better to say something along the lines of 'I'd rather you didn't say that to her Mum' and explained why. I don't think it's that bad anyway.

In fact, I've said on here that DGS2 is called Bertie the b****r because he is although we have stopped saying it now in case he repeats it!

I think you just have to apologise and explain that you were using it in one of the nicer ways (my dictionary says 'pert, sly or playful') and not let it become a big thing between you.

(((hugs)))

God! That is very weird of them - to leave without saying goodbye over such a little thing! And your son's reaction to a harmless name was quite ridiculous. Nothing wrong with calling anyone a little minx in fun. Where did he get the idea it has bad connotations?

I would have cried. And made them feel really bad. Or - more likely - I would have got really angry and expressed it bluntly.

I don't think we should pussy-foot round our kids. I know a lot of GN'rs will disagree with me there though.