Mind you manners PLEASE!!
Whether you live in a one room flat or a 12 bedroom mansion …… Manners ARE important!
It does not take long to notice that the use of manners is pretty much a lost art today.
Maybe you don’t even know what is important in the topic of manners.
Well let me tell you some that I know of. You can add or subtract to this list.
1.Don’t talk with your mouth full.
2.Don’t chew with your mouth open.
3.Don’t make noise while you eat. Slurping smacking burping etc
4.No elbows on the table.
5.Don’t eat with your hands
6.Don’t reach in front of someone ask for something to be passed
7.Use the napkin, put the napkin on your lap
8.Ask to be excused if you need to leave the table.
9.If you need to sneeze or blow your nose try to leave the table to do so.
10.Cover your mouth when you cough
11.Always take your hat off when you are inside especially in church.
12.Don’t interrupt while someone else is talking.
13.Respect people and their property.
14.For males…. When a female enters a room and there are no seats left stand and offer yours..insist…. Females if there are no more seats left and an older male or female enter the room stand and let them have your seat.
15.Don’t cut in a line
16.Don’t be rude or crude
17.Don’t talk back
18.Be kind
19.Don’t insist on the biggest piece or the last piece …always ask if anyone would like somemore before you take the last piece
20.When visiting someones house for dinner etc ask if there is anyway that you can help…. Young people clear your place setting after you eat a meal.
21.Pick up after yourselves
22.Leave the area you were in cleaner than when you found it
Write thank you notes
if you are visiting someones house for a few days….keep the room and bathroom tidy.
Pick a few of these to work on with your children. I bought a plastic pig (from a farm yard play set) and would set it by my plate at dinner. When the kids saw this they knew I would be watching. I would simply put it at the place of whatever child was breaking a table "rule" It was fun kept us focused and made us think.
Always explain what you are looking for and why. Sometimes there are not easy answers for why except that "that is what’s polite."
We want to raise children who will be able to carry themselves in any circle without being embarrassed. When everyone has it down perhaps a dinner out for everyone would be a great reward and a way to really try it out!
You will realize that table manners will not be able to be learned in front of the TV or on the run (in the back seat of the car) I urge you, with all that is within me, to strive to sit down together for a dinner meal numerous times a week. My 17 year old, a few years ago , was in a class where the teacher asked for all those that ate as a family seated together to raise their hands. She was the only hand raised in a class of over 25! I believe it is a link to the breakdown of the family in general.
Well again
if you have any specific questions I am available.
If you would like to be taken off this list let me know
Feel free to pass these emails along to anyone who maybe interested.
Take advantage of the time you have!
Blessings! Marnie
No comments:
Post a Comment