My six-year-old daughter has taken to calling me Ma'am, unasked.
Tonight, I finally asked her if it was meant to be funny or respectful.
"A little of both," she replied. "I would just think it would be respectable if I was talking to a grand lady."
"Which I am not?" I asked.
"No," she said, "but it would just be funny to call a very untidy person Ma'am."
"Oh?" I asked, getting worried.
"Yes," she said, "but for someone who wanted to be clean, and tried hard, but, well, they weren't from a rich family.... it's funny and respectable to call them Ma'am."
So now I know how my daughter sees me. As someone who wishes to be clean and tries hard, but, well, I didn't come from a rich family.
And honestly, it was the accuracy of her statement that killed me.