No Sir!

I grew up in California, and the whole concept of kids saying "sir" and "ma'am" to adults is just downright creepy to me. Since kids are expected to say "sir" and "ma'am" to adults where we live, I figured that my kid would just be the rude-one-with-the-weird-parents-who-don't-teach him-any-manners. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Two weeks ago, while Matt was out of town, Jackson started saying, "yes ma'am" and "no ma'am" to me in response to every question. I gently said, "Honey, I'm your mommy. You don't have to say ma'am to me." But it didn't work. He brashly continued to fling "ma'am" in my face at every opportunity. Impudent kid. Then Matt came home from his trip, and (I'll bet you could see this coming) now Jackson is calling him ma'am too. Do we ignore the whole situation and hope it goes away? Do we do start teaching him to call Matt sir? Do we pack up and move somewhere a little less civilized? We'll keep you posted.