I was watching Oprah recently and the topic of her show was, basically, Manners. I was raised in the era of manners. My parents were convinced that elbows on the dinner table would send one directly into the fiery depths. At the time I was learning these little things I felt they were terribly strict, not to mention ridiculous. With the wisdom of age came the realization that I was fortunate to have been taught how to behave, even if it was a bit over the top at times. I can't imagine anyone being offended at someone singing (God forbid) at the dinner table at home, but that was one of the misdeeds that would send us directly from the table to our room to think about how poorly we had behaved. When I had my family it was just a natural part of my parenting to teach the same manners (sans the singing thing) and as my kids get older they voice the fact that so many of their friends have no clue of how to behave in social situations. I have mentioned that I have all boys and I can tell you for sure that they initially react differently to a girl who doesn't use her napkin or talks with her mouth full of food. Maybe more important these days is the way that we are so rude to and inconsiderate of each other. Everyone is in such a hurry. You can be certain that "they" are going somewhere much more important than where you are headed. Don't even get me started on the change in manners since we all became armed with our trusty cell phone. I want to be sure and point out that I include myself in these issues. I guess there are times when I feel positive that I am in a bigger hurry than you are. Here's what I gleaned from Oprah's show:
We never touch people so lightly
That we do not leave a mark.
If we thought about that each time we went out about our daily activities it might change the way we do things. It also made me think about the fact that offensive is offensive. If I smile at you as I step in front of you in line, I have still stepped in front of you in line.
Have a G-R-E-A-T weekend and be nice out there!!!
Great post Friend! Good manners are great and bad manners are terrible! And YES...both stick with you even when you don't realize it! Have a blessed day!
ReplyDeleteGosh, don't get me started, hehe.... I have lots of male customers that think it is okay to swear and be creepy to us women in the store. They think it is okay to scream and yell and try to scare us if we don't warranty their boots, even though they have worn them for a year for sixteen hours a day! I am so glad our county passed a new law against cell phones while driving, thank goodness!!!
ReplyDeleteI hate to admit it, I am a hugger, and you know, the one that makes people stop and tell me their life story! My daughter laughs at me, I don't know why!!!
Have a happy weekend!!!!
Hugs,
Margaret B
I came from few manners but my husband came from many...When it came to teaching manners to our children, I think we did well...They have manners, just not too uptight, if that makes sense.
ReplyDeleteOh...so you allow your kids to sing at the table me thinks! Good for you. And you are so right in that there is a difference between having civility and being uptight. Good point.
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog and I like it. I am all for good manners too and I tried to teach my four sons as well as I could.
ReplyDeleteRiet, The Netherlands