Where Have All The Manners Gone?
posted on: 07:44 PM February 04, 2008
Have you ever gone somewhere and your pre-schooler is the most polite person there? I don't consider myself an overly sensitive person but there are some things that frustrate me to no end - manner lacking adults are one of them! Why is it that some adults feel they don't have to be polite to children????
Unfortunately, it happens far too often, especially at places that are supposed to be child-friendly - the zoo, a fair and toy stores! We were at a popular make-your-own-stuffed-animal store on the weekend when it happened again. The place was packed with people and the line-ups were unbelievable, but for the most part, children and adults were conducting themselves with respect - after all, we were all in it together. I was especially proud of my two girls as they weaved themselves in and out of the different areas. They didn't whine or complain about the long line-up and patiently waited their turn. They approriately said "excuse-me" if they needed to cut in front of someone as they made their way to another section of the store, as they've been taught to do.
They don't always and one can't expect children to every time, but I don't think having this expectation for adults is over-the-top. Much to my dismay, an adult walked right in front of my kids while they were looking at a display without saying "excuse-me". She continued to walk around the display and in-front of them. My youngest daughter looked at me in distress with an expression that said: "What do I do?"
I was faced with a dilemma - Do I ignore it and teach my kids that rude behaviour doesn't have any consequences or do I say something and risk causing a scene. Could have been the fact that I had already spent well over an hour in the store or my inner-mother bear coming out, but I chose to set an example. Her answer to my suggestion that she could have said excuse me (As politely as I could, of course!) was to say she wasn't trying to be rude and had said "sorry". But, that just didn't seem like enough for me. I stood in a situation that could have been avoided completely if only everyone had remembered their manners. How are we supposed to teach children to respect themselves and each other if adults don't set the same example? I hate to think that same person would have cut in-front of another adult without excusing themselves, which leads to the question why is it okay to do to children.
What's that sing-song rhyme kids sing about "don't you know your manners yet"? I must learn it for next time!
