What has happen to decorum and manners with people? Today I was talking to a friend of mine, who said she was a at a Mirada Cosgrove concert last night. She took her daughter to get an autograph, while do so it became a push-fest. One mom even went to as far as telling 6 little girls to merge in the middle of the line “Sweets you just merge. This is how it is done.”
I take you back to a year ago during my towns Easter egg hunt. I watched in horror as parents of 2-4 years ran with kids to pick up eggs. Pushing my daughter down on the ground to get the coveted plastic pink egg filled with a tootsie roll. Really.
I too have been lacking at times, while at the post office my children walk up to the counter “Can I please have a piece of candy.” Diane a mature women, reminded my children to ask “How was your day Miss Diane.” Wait for her response, then offer she would offer them candy. Now every time they are much more polite and wait for it to be offered , I am thankful the lesson for the kids. It takes a village.
There is slight glimmers of hope but, the world has gone insane teaching our children that rudeness and lack of decorum is acceptable. The number of times people don’t hold a door, say please/thank you’s, or even the sales person who does not say thank you for your purchase. The joy of human interaction, making someone smile, or being thoughtful others is becoming lost art.
I challenge you to do one of the following and lead by Example of Good Manners:
- Hold a door
- Let someone cut in front of you in line at the store when you have a full cart Say
- Hi to a stranger and tell them to have a good day
- Stop if you see a someone broken down at the side of the road who is clearly struggling
- When you says something don’t just give lip service say it with sincerity
- Allow a car to merge in front of you
- Rush less Be considerate
- Tell someone if there pant fly is down
- Tip properly and treat service people with dignity
- Do not talk on cell phones inappropriate places.
- Offer to get a drink or coffee for a coworker or spouse (even better a stranger)
- Write a thank you note
- Leave a comment on someone’s blog(we really like to hear)
- Tell someone they look great even if it is a strangers. (make their day)
- Please and thank you
- Smile
Let me know what you do to instill manners?
Enjoyed this post! I’ve definitely noticed a real decrease in manners and common decency, both in kids and adults. I think I might bring this up on my blog as well!
Amen, and parents at sports things too. It’s about the love. No? to do the love – because love is polite.
Thank you for this today Sherry
God Bless and Keep you and yours
It does seem like things are getting worse- people are teaching their kids to go after what they want and not care who they run over to get it.
I admit, I am HORRIBLE at letting someone ahead of me in line. Unless I have no children with me. LOL
I agree, people need to have more manners. The other problem too is that kids have no respect for authority anymore.
I agree. I’ve been noticing this lately too. I make it a point to really force Maddy to use her manners. She’s only three but she needs to learn these things. The troubling part about putting such an emphasis on her using her manners is it tends to magnify the lack of manners in, seemingly, everyone else.
I have had people say to me when I correct my kids manners well he asked nice.. “he does not need to say Please”… My response Oh you didn’t (insert my waving finger) “He has to say please and thank you”. Please don’t undermine my authority with my children. How rude to correct a mother who is correcting her own children.
So you just keep on correct Maddy some day she will be thankful. Great job Mommy
I agree, I agree I agree! We recently walked to the store during the aftermath of a blizzard and on returning, several cars got stuck in the snow. My fiancee pushed them out of their stuck spots and the people were so surprised it was almost insulting…but its cause you don’t always see that type of behavior anymore
yes ma’am i completely agree! teach them when they are young and they will not depart from it!
xo
I hear ya. You can tell it’s bad when the smallest acts of kindness are viewed with disbelief. We work hard to instill some politeness and charity in the kiddo, but we’re fighting against snarky cartoons and all the rude little habits kids so readily share with each other.
I like your list. Another I’ve found is that when someone ahead of me in a store line is a few coins short on a purchase, I’ll help them make up the difference. There’s a good chance they’ll pay it forward.
Wow that was odd. I just wrote an really long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t appear. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Regardless, just wanted to say great blog!
We absolutely love your blog and find many of your post’s to be precisely what I’m looking for. Does one offer guest writers to write content for yourself? I wouldn’t mind producing a post or elaborating on most of the subjects you write in relation to here. Again, awesome web log!
I’m truly enjoying the design and layout of your blog. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more enjoyable for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a designer to create your theme? Outstanding work!
Hello! I’ve been reading your website for a long time now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from New Caney Texas! Just wanted to tell you keep up the fantastic job!
I really like your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you make this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz respond as I’m looking to design my own blog and would like to know where u got this from. appreciate it
I live in Springfiled, MA, where violence and attitude are sickeningly common. Manners at my high school are non-existent, and it is disgusting the way people here regard figures of authority. As a senior, and a mature girl, I look down on these students. I am currently writing a report on the loss of common courtesies in today’s youth, and would LOVE input, and possible interviews.