Hell. Oops! That word is probably bad etiquette! That's okay, I don't eat soup daintily from the side of the spoon like I'm supposed to, either. Hey! Did you know? There's an updated Emily Post etiquette book for kids out now. I'm thinking it's more or less a good idea, but I sure hope things have relaxed a bit from the old Emily Post from the 50's that my mom had. Calling cards, hello? And proper attire for a "morning" wedding vs. an "afternoon" one? Though social mores have relaxed quite a bit since then, haven't they? After all, I'm pretty sure none of you are wearing a girdle right now, or a darling little pillbox with a half-veil. (Are you?)
So...politeness and kids. Do they go together, I mean, at all? I'm always told how polite my kids are, like it's something unusual. They're not polite in public, they're terrified into submission! I think good manners really stem from an overall sense of respect. I'm not so good with rules, with people deciding what I can do and when, but I do get the concept of general respect for others which I believe translates into behavior that feels good to the other person. Which I think is what etiquette is really about. Knowing when to pull a chair out for a lady? Maybe it's not so important, but the underlying respect for another person that's behind it, coupled with knowing a behavior that can express that respect, that's what counts.
What elements of good manners do you think is important for kids to know?
