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Kids are Baby Goats

(111 Posts)
Pippa000 Mon 08-Feb-16 10:44:56

Why do I get so incensed when children are called kids, am I that out of date? confused

rosesarered Tue 09-Feb-16 17:01:41

Don't know why, but I don't like or use 'kids' either.

annodomini Tue 09-Feb-16 15:28:25

I've been trying to find the origin of the expression 'just kidding'. The easiest explanation is 'behaving in a childish way' or 'treating someone like a child'. Alternatively, Captain Kidd, the pirate was sentenced to hang. The first two efforts failed but the third was successful. The first two were 'kidding'. May have to ask Susie Dent!

Pamish Tue 09-Feb-16 13:45:23

probably came via the German 'Kinder' for child.

Words in common use get shortened.

.

Jalima Tue 09-Feb-16 13:22:24

ps just realised it rhymes with POGS

Jalima Tue 09-Feb-16 13:21:49

POGS grin

DB always called them 'the sprogs', his own and all the others in the family.

Conni7 Tue 09-Feb-16 13:16:20

Such an ugly word! Whatever happened to all the children?

POGS Tue 09-Feb-16 11:16:56

It doesn't bother me in the least.

I did object to somebody calling my daughter , moons ago, a little bugger but sadly on the day I couldn't argue.

hulahoop Tue 09-Feb-16 11:15:55

Good job we all have different names life would be boring otherwise?

Candelle Tue 09-Feb-16 10:48:57

I really dislike the word 'kid' in relation to a child. It just doesn't sound right - well, at least to me!

We have two daughters and they have always been 'the girls', so that was easy.

Their children, one of each variety, are our 'grand-sproglets'. I am not too sure how this came about but it has stuck and they are perfectly happy when I call them to heel by yelling 'sproglets!' and come happily trotting over, knowing there are no other children in the vicinity that they could be confused with. It works well!!

Skullduggery Tue 09-Feb-16 10:46:19

My friend has lots of kids. They're all gorgeous!

Shrimp Tue 09-Feb-16 10:46:09

No problem at all with 'kids' - to me it sounds more friendly and less formal. However, as has been said, there is no place for the term when discussing children in official documents or meetings.

Tessa101 Tue 09-Feb-16 10:37:42

I agree pippa000 As I've got 2 daughters I've always referred to them as the girls, and I've now I've got 3 granddaughters, I refer to those as grandchildren. I don't like or use the word kids to refer to my family or anyone else,

maryEJB Tue 09-Feb-16 10:34:58

Should have read through befor posting! I meant We have no problem. You can't win with this sort of thing as people have such varying views.

maryEJB Tue 09-Feb-16 10:33:17

yet my daughter when she was at secondary school was happy with 'kids' and objected to 'children' as it sounded too babyish. And she really hated being referred to as a youngster! My husband and I , both retired teachers would always refer to children at school as kids too, in informal conversation - never formally of course or to parents or in front of the pupils. È just think it's an affectionate nickname and have bot problem with it, but I'm aware that some don't like it.

GranE Tue 09-Feb-16 09:55:06

I have never referred to my children or grandchildren as kids - it sounds so belittling and disrespectful. It just grates!

Refugeefromthestorm Tue 09-Feb-16 09:32:09

I don't really belong here as I'm not a Gran,but joined when there were issues with Mumsnet once.

I am 40 and always refer to my children as children. Can't stand the use of the word 'kids' for children blushgrin

annodomini Mon 08-Feb-16 22:05:23

Since mine were both boys, I always referred to them as 'the boys' - sometimes still do so, though they're both in their 40s. I try not to call my GC 'kids', since my GS1 got very uppity about the baby goat thing! One pair is one of each, so they are 'the children', though soon they will outgrow me; in the other family they are 'the boys'. When I was a teenager I aroused the ire of my two younger sisters by referring to them as 'the kids'! It seems inappropriate now that we are all in our 70s. grin

Anya Mon 08-Feb-16 21:41:15

Nothing wrong with calling children kids. What's all the fuss about?

If that's all that they have to stress about, they are very lucky indeed hmm

Ana Mon 08-Feb-16 20:46:04

Or is that just for men...?

Ana Mon 08-Feb-16 20:45:03

Fruit of my loins? grin

maryEJB Mon 08-Feb-16 20:41:55

Agreed but what us the alternative? Son and daughter too wordy. Offspring sound vaguely rude.

grannylyn65 Mon 08-Feb-16 20:01:48

Am not going to call 40 yr olds 'children'!

maryEJB Mon 08-Feb-16 19:11:41

I meant we said kids about our own children!

maryEJB Mon 08-Feb-16 19:11:07

We always said 'kids' about our own grandchildren but for some reason I'm not keen on 'grandkids' Nor do I like Nanny which sounds like a paid childminder. I'm Grandma, but some don't like that. DH for some reason elected to be Grandad not Grandpa! To go back to grandchildren, as we have 6 we often in the family refer to them by number, as a joke. So they'll say 'Nos I, 2 and 4 are excited today, how are the others' if a party is coming up that is. I think I started it by introducing one to a friend as no 5 and it caught on.

Penstemmon Mon 08-Feb-16 18:56:34

M0 do you know why the word 'kids' grates so much with you? I have the same feelings when someone refers to me as a 'lady' or women as 'ladies' but I am not sure why! I also find 'nanny' & 'nan' grates too..I am Nana which I guess might make others cringe!! Funny thing language!