Calling adult sisters 'the girls'

I love being called the girls it makes me feel young

Most children aren’t upset by being referred to as “the kids” or “the girls” or “the twins” etc, but if so, they should suggest a suitable alternative to family members.

What I Really Hate is the modern usage of “fur-babies” instead of dogs! Especially when dogs are dressed up, pushed in pushchairs and allowed into shops and cafes as if they were real children/people. I was shocked yesterday to see a dog in our local (main) church for an exhibition.

Just because so many people have dogs now, especially since the pandemic, it doesn’t mean we have to humanise them. They are still animals with animal behaviour, no matter how well-behaved they may appear to be, and should be treated as such and not as human beings.

I don't know about you but I can think about what to have for tea and the issues relating to the pandemic within the same hour. It's possible to think about a tange of things minor and major.

For goodness sake i think if people are worrying about this then they dont have enough real problems

Does it MATTER. It's not said in a horrible way, - why worry yourself about things like this.

I go out regularly with 'the girls'. I'm 73 and they're both older than me. As a group we are referred to as 'the girls' by the cafe staff and we're happy with that.
My elderly aunts were always referred to as 'the girls' and they were the sort of women that would have said if they'd been insulted by the term.

I don't mind it, I'm not particularly keen on the alternatives, women, lady

I think it’s a silly thing to get upset about, we often refer to my brothers as the boys and of family members are talking about me and my sister then they say the girls, no big deal, we are all in our 50’s. There are a lot worse things to be called, would you really prefer the old bags , for example?

if they hate it, surely its up to them to do something about it? I also think that its up to the individual whether or not they decide to feel demeaned by words IYSWIM?

I always refer to my two daughters as my ‘girls’ even though they are adults and my eldest has four children! I think I always will unless they object (which they don’t!). My son is always just that as there is only one of him or ‘ my boy’ if I am being overly ‘mummyish’! I do refer to he and my grandson as ‘the boys’ occasionally. I would stop if anyone didn’t like it though!!

I used to laugh at my mother referring to her friends as girls, but how else would you refer to them collectively? I can think of worse things to be called. I’d rather be a girl than an old boiler.

My mum has a dear friend she has always called "Young Pam". This was to separate her from another (older) Pam. Young Pam is now 85. Lol.

My sister and I are unmarried with no children in our 50s and my mum would of called us her girls until she died. In fact I was the youngest and I sometimes got introduced " this is my baby", I was in my 40s! No harm I say, it never really bothered me.

My daughter and her husband (both approaching 40) get called "The Kids" by his parents. My daughter absolutely loathes it.

^My parents used to often refer to us all as 'the kids and grandkids' eg "we're going away for the long weekend with the kids and grandkids'. It didn't bother us at all.

I think spinster was a common expression amongst an older generation, but I only hear people use it nowadays in an ill informed stereotyping kind of way.

I suppose language changes and evolves. Bachelor is becoming a bit of a dated expression.^

I have a friend who hates "kids" but we're all different.
Interesting that spinster is used in such a way nowadays and bachelor isn't.

My Mum referred to myself and my daughter as ‘My girls,’ as we cared for her 24/7/365. Sadly we lost her.

I’d give anything to hear her say ‘My girls’ just one more time ❤️

It was always a term of endearment for us, but I can see how the sisters would feel upset over it. I also had twin aunts and they were also referred to as the twins, until they both died.

In fact, they’re still the twins when we chat about them now. They were the only twins in the family so everyone knows who we mean.

My OH is a woman and we are both 70+ and we are often called the girls when on cruises. It doesn’t bother me at all better than ‘here come the women’ or ‘here come the lesbians’!

My brother has 5 boys ranging in age from 26 - 40. They are still referred to as ‘the children’

Rather be one of the girls than be labelled old dears

I am guilty I zoom with two friends weekly, and say to my Husband " I have a zoom meeting with the girls this evening" both are over seventy.

I think the terms used are quite endearing. Naming everyone seems very formal to me, unless necessary.

Your righ Beswitched it is hard to get it right, it’s not only females.
My husband plays golf and him and his golfing buddies sometimes go on golfing trips , he always goes away with the “boys” ?
I also know someone who has 3 unmarried brothers who share a house , they are also known as the boys as in “oh we went to see the boys today
I’m sure majority of people who use the term boys/girls usually mean it as a term of affection.

Jaxjacky

I wouldn’t be offended at all, as your friend(s) are beswitched, I’m surprised they haven’t been vocal in their dislike before reaching their 60’s.

They have laughingly said I think we're a bit old to be called the girls now.
But I think they feel it's not worth getting into a confrontation or being rude to elderly relatives over.

Just one of those minor irritations in life that people grit their teeth and put up with I suppose.

nadateturbe

I don't like referring to children as kids. My aunts used to refer to older unmarried ladies as spinsters.

My parents used to often refer to us all as 'the kids and grandkids' eg "we're going away for the long weekend with the kids and grandkids'. It didn't bother us at all.

I think spinster was a common expression amongst an older generation, but I only hear people use it nowadays in an ill informed stereotyping kind of way.

I suppose language changes and evolves. Bachelor is becoming a bit of a dated expression.

Oh I agree with you Dinahmo and it just goes to show that context is everything. Mind you, it’s still called Ladies Day at the races, though I’ve never been. Maybe I’m not a lady