Yes Mam

For months now, I've been teaching Colin to say, "Yes Mam. (BTW, I don't know the proper spelling for that unless it's short for Madame.) Anyway, our conversations normally go like this: 

I ask a question or request a behavior or ask a favor or whatever. I get various responses like the following: 

Yeah

Okay

No

I don't want to.

Mom, you're silly. 

Mom, you're not being happy with me.

And sometimes, I'll even get a "whatever." Seriously!

And with those varied responses, I'll encourage better answers with improved manners. "Yes Mam," being one of those. When I say it, he will often repeat it. When he doesn't repeat it, I say, "'Yes Mam' are the words I'm looking for." Then he'll say it, reluctantly sometimes, but he'll say it. Other times I'll say, for example, "Colin, would you like a quesadilla for dinner." Colin will answer, "Yeah." Then I'll say, "Yes Mam?" And he'll respond, "Yes Mam." 

Today, in the car, I handed him an opened fruit snack and said, "Try not to spill it okay buddy." And he said, "Yes Mam." 

Oh, so proud....so very proud. I was beaming!