I need help of you Americans.

[BoxingGorilla]

I never called my mom or dad sir or maam, not out of a lack of respect, it just wasn't what me or my brother did. It just seems a bit odd to me, too formal and I wouldn't want my kids doing it either. Did always use it for other people's parents/old people in general.

The one English thing I could never get used to is mate. Just doesn't sound right.

Yeah, I never used that "sir" or "ma'am" crap when dealing with my parents. I had a friend whose parents made him address them as such and I found it quite ridiculous! My friend's father always called him "son" instead of his name. I thought it strange and wondered how such a tradition got started.

I call my father "Dad" and my mother "Ma."

Mate is hard to get used to but I through it around now and again