Manners?!

It's about that time that I talk about it.  Manners.  What happened to them?  Why is it so rare to see or hear them today?  I think it's sad that when you do see children or people with manners it takes you by surprise!  Of course I have two wonderful stories and examples to blog about so please continue reading below (see how I used the word please?)

Example #1:  A few weeks ago I was shopping at a grocery store with Will.  Will's "new" thing to do is reach out and touch any and all items in his path.  I understand that he is at the age of discovery but I also am not going to have one of those children who reach out and touch everything-especially in a store.  The biggest reason is just for safety.  So as we were shopping up and down the isles Will would occasionally put his hand out to grab something and I would put his hand back in the cart and tell him "No-don't touch". 

Well, Will got a little persistent and after I told him, "No", the little angel grunted at me and furrowed his eyebrows together and for that-he got a hand slap. 

All of a sudden, a lady next to me says, "A little harsh, don't you think?"....

It took all of my will power to not say something very nasty back so I just said, "he doesn't have any money"....

I wanted to add..."and I bet you have brats at home that you can't control" but I kept my mouth shut. 

If any of you see my little boy you will know first hand that he is the last thing from being abused or hurt.  I want anyone and everyone to be able to take Will out to any store and not have to worry about him touching or grabbing things along the way.  Basically I am parenting.  Oh, and trying to teach Will some form of manners at an early age.

Example #2

Dan and I just had job interviews at a school in Orlando, Florida.  I know, I know....that is another blog for another day. 

Anyways...we were boarding on the flight home and almost everyone had found their seats.  A family of four came through the isle and you could tell the mother was getting upset.  Come to find out all of their seats are separated.  One of those seats was next to Dan and I.  I didn't even hesitate to say to the mother, "you can have our seats and we can sit separated". 

Did the mother say "thank you"?  Did the father?  Did the kids?  NOPE.  It was like they expected us to give up our seats. 

I wasn't looking for a thank you-or anything of the sort but it threw me for a loop that it wasn't just an automatic. 

As we landed the family blew past Dan and I-we had to wait for everyone to unload because our carryon's were towards the back of the plane-and then someone with manners said,

"One good deed should never go unpunished"....and there was a lady and her husband carrying our luggage up to meet us. 

I'm thankful that some people still have manners...and you can bet that my son is going to be one of them!