I can remember practicing with my mother. "Goodbye Mrs. So-and-So. Thank you for the ride!" It must be genuine, and our tone must reflect our true thanks. And it was said every... single... time an adult other than our parents brought us home. My sister and I were in numerous carpools for church choir, ballet, gymnastics - you name it! It became rote. And it still is... now for Sumter and Jackson.
I feel like my own mother, reminding them "don't forget to thank Mr. or Mrs. So-and-So for the ride!" And they always remember. I know, because Mr. or Mrs. So-and-So tell me. We parents notice these things, don't we? We notice gratitude and good manners. We notice when our children show thanks.
Yes, we do... and we notice when our children's friends don't...
I need to share this post with a friend. Her husband, a teacher, would give a friend of his son's a ride to school daily. This kid never said thanks. And neither did the parents. It always made my friend so angry. Needless to say, they don't carpool anymore. You are so right about instilling good manners and thoughtfulness into your kids early on. I'm often told how nice it is that my kids say "please" and "thank you" and that makes me feel like I'm doing something right!
ReplyDeleteI am going to make sure I remind my children to thank my sweet friend with whom we carpool. You are right on, sister! i love it!!!
ReplyDeleteI love hearing when J and C have good manners, and certainly notice when friends don't! I will have to make sure to remind them to thank any driver from now on. Although C won't really get in anyone else's car...moot point I suppose! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I appreciate and thank mamas like you!
ReplyDeleteI love how you include the parents' name "thank you Mrs. So-and-So". I'm going to make sure my children thank the driver by name from now on (not just a quick thank you). I love it!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right! I also have a thing about children using my first name....Oooh...think I know what my next blog will be about.
ReplyDeletePlease, thank you, yes ma'am, no ma'am, yes sir, and no sir are part of a southerner's ten commandments. I love a child w/good manners.
ReplyDeleteI am a stickler for the boys using their "pleases" and thank yous". The one thing I am very proud of that my older boys do is hold the door open for others. People are so impressed when they do that and it makes this mama proud!
ReplyDeleteSo true!
ReplyDeletexoxo
SC
RIGHT ON! So many parents have lost this manual you speak from...THANKS, I'm a firm believer like you.
ReplyDeleteOk. I'm going to apolojize first thing for being on my soap box, but since I've suffered from migraines nearly every. single. day. this week, I feel like I can! Today's kids are so. stinking. rude. Even my kid!! I'm constantly reminding her to say thank you, yes, ma'am, no ma'am. And what kills me even more is that the schools don't seem to stress this enough, either. I noticed it when Alise started daycare and it just kills me. It would help so much if the schools would reinforce what the parents are trying to teach their kids. I'm not blaming the schools. Like I said, I'm on my soap box because I haven't been able to even THINK until today. I just wish we could get back to polite kids. The way I was brought up. I still say yes ma'am to my freakin' boss!!!!
ReplyDeleteReminds me of the movie Groundhog Day. Everyday, Bill Murray rescues this boy who falls out a tree. He catches him on the sidewalk. And the boy never thanks him. Bill Murray gets so aggravated with him and thinks he's a little punk because he never says thanks (but he still catches him everyday...)
ReplyDeleteClaytor turns 2 tomorrow. He is going through a picky food phase and dinner has been a challenge the last two weeks. He's been screaming and crying at the table only wanting bread. When I offer him his plate back he just screams "no dank doo no dank doo". Despite the dinner drama, it's pretty cute. :)
I added a link to your blog in my manners post. :.) This is such a great topic.
ReplyDeleteA child with manners speaks volumns!
ReplyDeleteJo
Your comment was so sweet, I've so enjoyed becoming friends! :)
I always say 'please and thank you' will take you very far in life!
ReplyDeleteYes, we definitely notice!!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Robin
That is so true!
ReplyDeleteI am so trying to instill manners...
My parents instilled the same rule in us!!!! My Mom DRILLED in into us. I think my kids say thanks. I always poe my head out and say t and I ask the kids if they thanks Mrs. So and So for the ride. They say they did.
ReplyDeleteWell, I do know that people always tell me the boys have great manners so I hope it s true.
I do really appreciate children with good manners! I have taught my children to always clear their place at the table after they eat, too. That is a big one for me...
ReplyDeleteYep, we always had to say "Thanks for the ride!" too! Now I tell Miss Priss to say it to the bus driver!
ReplyDelete