Showing posts with label manners. Show all posts
Showing posts with label manners. Show all posts

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Manners and etiquette, long gone?

sign of the timesImage by franglo via Flickr

Today I was shopping at a children's consignment shop. I am now 8 months pregnant and was holding my almost 2 year old's hand trying to get in the door when a women rushed out to get more bags from her car. She said excuse me. But really shouldn't she be waiting for a pregnant woman and a child, not trying to cut ahead? Is your time really that important, that more important than mine?
At first I thought this was the owner, and was about to leave since I didn't want to give someone like that my business. Then I realized this is another customer trying to sell her stuff to the shop. So I went on my way shopping.
I just think of my little girl, not even 2, who has better manners then this woman. She says please and thank you (we are working on your welcome since she always responds to thank you with another thank you) she even says bless you when someone sneezes.
I was not raised with good manners or etiquette, but as I got older I realized the importance and how bratty I probably was as a child so I always said I would instill good manners in my children.
Honestly I have not found it hard either. I make sure to always say please and thank you and Liv has just caught on.
I just love seeing children using good manner, its always puts a smile on my face. I can recall last time I was pregnant a boy, maybe all of 4 held the door open for me. This made my day.
To me most often bad manners just shows me that you think your time is more important then mine. This is such a selfish attitude. No wonder society is the way it is with people walking around thinking this way.
Someone is late, what I have nothing better to do then wait around for you?
Holding the door, someone can't take 20 seconds out of their day to help out a pregnant woman, a child, the elderly or just anyone who might not have his/her hands free.
I had a woman block me in at the grocery store last month with her cart. Said excuse me, she looked at me and looked around at the boxes blocking me in on the other side. "What do u want me to do?" She said moving on with looking for her purchase. "Move your cart so I can get out?"
Again another selfish act. She expected me to wait for her to pick out her meat, which can take a while, then take 5 seconds to move her cart out of the way.
People talking or texting while out with friends, is something else better going on. You can't enjoy the company of others and give them your full attention?
Talking loud on cellphones in public places. Lack of cellphone etiquette is a huge pet peeve of mine. I hate when I go to a register and have to wait for the cashier to finish up his/her text. People have no pride in their work at all.
When did we become so self-centered?
What ever happened to love thy neighbor?
I can not change the world, but I am glad that I am teaching my own children that walking around thinking that the world revolves around you is not okay. I feel good teaching them brotherhood for their fellow man. Yes I feel manners are a simple start of this.
Manners show respect to yourself and others.
Treat others as you want to be treated.
These may sound cliched, but they are true.
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Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Is Civility Dead?

Rules of Civility, Rule 1Image by Jeanne-Erin via Flickr

I am not a morning person. No matter how much sleep I get I still drag in the morning. Since being a SAHM my morning routine is usually drinking a cup of green tea while watching the Today Show while Liv plays.
This week they have been doing a series on Civility and is it dead.
Having a young child I often feel I see the best and worst of people. I have had strangers rush ahead to open a door for me while holding Liv, I have also have strangers let a door slam in my face behind them while holding Liv and a bag of books at the library.
I have had people ofter to let me go in front of them in line at a store, or even to vote, while on my way out Liv smiles and waves at another person and they rudely look away. Like it is so hard to smile back to a 14 month old who is excited to see you and your dog?
I've have had people smile at me when Liv yells and screams in delight, I have also have had people stare in contempt.
I've had people smile and chat about how lovely my newborn is while I nurse her in public. I have also been stared down and talked bad about how I nurse my daughter in public.
Most of the time I feel Liv brings out the best in other people's manner, but when people are rude around her it just seems so much worse then.
It really makes my day when Liv waves and smiles at a person who just seems to be having a bad day, and when they see her happy smile, sparkling blues and her had waving away they for a second forget what was bothering them and smile at my little girl. Very often I can tell that the person is saying to themselves "that made my day." The pure innocence of a child's smile is usually enough to melt the coldest hearts.
But I still see people being rude and crude to others. With or with out a child it is just the right thing to do to hold the door for someone behind you, to say thank you and please and to just have common courtesy for others. I try my best to model these behaviors for Liv so she will grow up using manners.
Do unto others, love thy neighbor, we all live on this earth together.
We need to share it and make our time here together pleasant. A little civility goes a long way and can really help our days be easier and less stressful.
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