Pardon me while I step upon my soap box... MANNERS STILL MATTER! I am thinking of putting that on a t-shirt (if someone hasn't already). It seems that good manners are becoming as obsolete and hard to find as 8-track players. I will admit that I am a bit old-fashioned when it comes to this but I think the world would still be a little bit better off if people would remember to say please and thank you.
As a parent, I am trying to teach my boys that using good manners should be a part of who they are. I don't mind reminding them now because I hope that when they are grown it will be as natural as breathing for them to hold open a door or ask someone if they need help when carrying something. I can't tell you how many times I have walked behind someone and had the door slam in my face. Really? Is it that hard to hold the door for someone? What about just smiling and saying thank you when someone provides a service for you? I was recently at the drive-thru of McDonald's and I smiled and asked the person taking my money if they were having a good day. They looked at me like I was completely crazy. Apparently, people just don't do that very often anymore but they should. MANNERS STILL MATTER!
So, I will admit that I am going to be THAT mother. I am going to correct my sons when they forget to say please. I am going to remind them to hold open a door and i am going to request that they always ask me if I need any help before they walk out of the house before we get in the car. They may not appreciate it now but I bet their future wives will!
