Good Manners

The other evening, my neighbor told me, “You have the most polite kids ever.  Seriously, they are always saying ‘please’ and ‘thank-you’ and using such good manners!”

I thanked her kindly for telling me this, and glowed as I absorbed her words.  But I must confess:  my immediate reaction to her statement was to think, “Yeah, they darn well better!”

Ensuring my children have good manners is high on my list of priorities as a mother.  In fact, it is one of the most important things I want to teach them.   I have encountered students and kids who do not practice good manners, and it wasn’t fun to deal with them.  However, students with exemplary manners are a pleasure to interact with, and I would rather my own offspring be counted amongst such people!

Like all moms I meet, I make a herculean effort to ensure my children have good manners.  I am forever saying things like, “How do you ask that politely?” or asking, “Did you remember to say ‘thank you’?”  I am so gratified when my kids remember their good manners without my prompting!  It is wonderful to realize my efforts are not in vain.

I myself try to be polite and kind to all people, but I have to confess:  I don’t always succeed. There are times when I want results and I want them now. I can easily resort to being curt or abrupt to get my way.  The words, “Please,” and “Thank you,” might not cross my lips as I degenerate into downright rudeness.  I realize the hypocrisy of this as I am trying to teach my kids to always use their good manners.  And so, I’ve begun gritting my teeth and striving to remain courteous at all times.  It is truly hard!!  I believe in leading by example, though, so I shall press on towards being polite at all times, even when I don’t want to…even when I don’t think I should have to be!

I suppose this is just another example of how being a mother challenges me.  Nobody ever said it would be easy.

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Michelle blogs at Wife and Mommy, and can be found on Twitter!