It's Funny and Respectable to Call Me Ma'am

Children shoot from the hip.

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.