Is it just a Caribbean thing?

Growing up, the unspoken rule of thumb was that if I was addressing an adult that was a friend of my mother’s, it would be “Aunty or Uncle So and So.” When I addressed an adult that was not a friend of my mother’s, it was ALWAYS Mr. or Mrs. So and So.” Had I not shown the proper degree of respect, I would have undoubtedly been corrected - at length! As a result of this upbringing, it pretty much makes my ears bleed to hear my children addressing adults by their first names, even though that seems to be the norm around here.

Over the last few months, I have gradually managed to get them to start addressing all of my friends as Aunty and Uncle. It seems more respectful somehow. It still leaves me wondering, since I don’t really see others using this convention, whether it is a Caribbean thing, or whether times have changed.