[Marie]

I think a person who refers to children as "little brutes" is starting off with the wrong attitude. But then, when I pick up my almost-2-year-old after his nap, I tell him, "I missed you while you were asleep, James!" Could just be different personalities.

Oh, heck. I call my kids "Kidlettes", "Hurricane (fill in the blank)", "Puppies", "Apple Butt" (daughter hates that one! *snicker*), "Bratlings", etc. I also say it with a twinkle in my eye and tell them how much I adore, miss and appreciate them every single day. Hugs, back scratches, raspberries, snorts in the ear, cuddles, and tickles are without limit. It's called "teasing" and humor and the kids know that.

People can be so stuffy! (Good thing kids aren't!)

[Tax-chick]

I don't mind people's thinking I'm stuffy.

I made an interpretation based on the text of an article, and whether I'm right or wrong is (1) impossible to determine, as the author has apparently not reproduced since the article was published, and (2) not going to affect whatever the facts might be.