We say grace, and we say ma'am, and if you ain't into that...well. FOR SHAME!

Doodle had a Halloween craft day at school yesterday and I volunteered to work the whole day with her at school. Things were going along swimmingly until I heard a little boy answer the teacher with a loud, resounding, "YEAH!". I looked over at Doodle and she looked as if someone had just set themselves on fire. MOMMA, HE SAID YEAH! The teacher simply went on as if YEAH was a perfectly acceptable way to answer a question. Well, this just simply won't do with me. I am constantly in awe of the way parents are teaching (or NOT teaching) their children a certain amount of respect. Where I come from, if a child said "yeah" to a teacher, they may well find themselves getting a proper dressing down in front of God and everybody. And that, of course, means it's a REAL lecture. If the Divine is invited to the lesson, you know you've REALLY MESSED IT UP BIG THIS TIME.
I understand there are cultural differences to the ma'am and sir thing, but being from the north or south notwithstanding, if you can't teach your child to say ma'am, you could at least teach them to say yes, please...something with a modicum of respect. And don't give me that horrid answer about ma'am and sir being slave terms and that subjugation crap. That dog don't hunt with this girl. Teach your child some manners...Because God help us all if they ever run into me or my Momma and answer us with a yeah.