I am mother of two…Most 2, 3, 6, 9, even 12 and 15 year olds call me aunty or Khala. No big deal.
I am also known as Appa and Appi to most people in family and Baji and Bhabhi to some. Not a big deal either.
So got me thinking…
So what defines an aunty - is it when you do aunty like things like spend time in the kitchen, scrubbing pot and pans at desi parties. Is it when you are 30 or above? Is when your waist circumfrance is more than 32 inches?
I've no problem being called aunty by kids who are the age of my nieces and nephews. But I hate it when people who should know better (like those a few years younger and even worse, those who are a few years older) call me aunty.
I'm thinking of answering back with jee haan daadi-jaan just to put them in there place.
I think we can address someone as aunty only when she is around our mother’s age and this is too just to give her respect for her age and not to make any sorts of aunty & niece relationship.
criteria like having 2 kids , washing dishes in kitchen is baseless. what if someone get married at 18 and have baby at 19 , does that makes her an aunty ? does this mean that now a unmarried 28 year old girl can call her aunty just because she has a kid and is a housewife.
I think some people call others aunty to make themselves look younger & feel better.
at age 7, even a 20 something is aunty...but at my age, only someone 50 and up (or has kids who are much older/married/with kids) is an aunty. Everyone else is just "yo"...lol
I have to clarify that it wasn't a girl. It was guy and it was not meant to be cruel. I think he said it out of repect but I was taken bavk because I am only a few years older than him.
I have to clarify that it wasn't a girl. It was guy and it was not meant to be cruel. I think he said it out of repect but I was taken bavk because I am only a few years older than him.
But how can someone be so clueless? Unless I look like the individual's "aunty", i.e. similar age to his/her mum, don't call me anything at all. Use generic terms like aap, jee, etc. to show respect but that don't assign or assume age of the other person. This is called being tactful.
If it makes you feel any better....this uncle (balding with graying hair, tid sticking out) who was not very familiar with my mom referred to her as "aunti". LOL.
I remember me, my sister, and mom thought it was hilarious.
Funnily enough though, my mom has several nieces and nephews not much younger than her. The sensible ones refer to her as "Baji".
But how can someone be so clueless? Unless I look like the individual's "aunty", i.e. similar age to his/her mum, don't call me anything at all. Use generic terms like aap, jee, etc. to show respect but that don't assign or assume age of the other person. This is called being** tactful**.
"Tactful" in desi culture means overdoing the izzat. Examples: Bestowing unreasonable titles and showing lots of concern for private affairs, etc. LOL.
Don’t mind it too much. Trust me, kids don’t exactly have a strong sense of (reasonable) estimation. It gets better as they grow older (or not, lol). At least with kids, you can brush it off cuz they’re young. But when adults behave tactlessly, it’s harder to ignore,
getting called auntie by a 28-year-old?! he/she needs his eyes checked then! lol! maybe was confused what to say! but i would have expected him to say baji, being the obvious!!
