Why manners matter

We wrote thank-you notes for every gift we received, we practiced proper telephone etiquette, our table manners were impeccable, and we were well versed in small-talk pleasantries. As a kid, I thought it was all for show, but now as I am teaching my own small children, I am coming to understand that there is a lot more to manners than social niceties and proper conduct. In considering how to approach manners with my littles, here are some thoughts on why manners are truly valuable.

September 9, Manners help us practice gratitude. Entitlement is a word thrown around a lot in discussions about childrearing. One way we can combat that is through gratitude; when we thank other people, it helps us look outside ourselves and recognize all the ways we are blessed by them. From saying thank you when the salt is passed at the dinner table to giving a thank-you hug when someone hosts a playdate to writing a thank-you note when a gift is received, communicating that gratitude forces us to acknowledge the difference between something we are entitled to and something that has been gifted to us.

Manners foster a heart of thankfulness. They are literally magic words. If you have not been using them consistently, just try it out. I can guarantee you that you will gain an abundance of respect from people of all ages. And by seeing the power of these basics now, you will learn to appreciate the power of practicing good manners throughout your life.

The human being who lives only for himself reaps nothing but unhappiness. All Improving You! Topic Categories - This Section. Choices For Young People. My Friend, Ed My friend, Ed, was one super nice guy. Do you smile at friends and family members when you come in contact with them? Do you look people in the eye when you are talking with them? Do you let your parents know that you appreciate them and all that they do for you?

Do you offer to help with chores around the house instead of waiting to be asked? Do you show your respect for your teachers and school staff and thank them for their efforts to teach you important things that you need to know? Do you speak to teachers by respectively addressing them as Mr. Do have a firm and welcoming handshake that you readily share when meeting someone new for the first time?

Would most of your friends characterize you as a really nice person? What is Body Image? DH writes This has so many different types of resources available on such a broad range of topics. It seems to have something for everyone.

She thinks people who drive SUVs are guilty of robbing natural resources and polluting the air. But rather than just whine about it, she gets proactive. She's printed cards that she'll leave on a gas guzzler's windshield, which read, "Road-hogging, gas-guzzling, air-fouling vulgarian!

Clearly you have an extremely small penis, or you wouldn't drive such a monstrosity. For the adequately endowed, there are hybrids or electrics.

A lot of people think she's kind of nuts, but I can relate. Good manners are the social niceties that cement our society, and prevent us from becoming a cage full of rabid baboons, squealing at the top of our lungs and touching ourselves inappropriately.

Modern people may find manners a complete waste of time, and as relevant as a horse and buggy, but I find they make me appreciate my fellow man. Good manners are like art: They exalt humanity for no good reason, other than they assume the basic value of all people.

In a society that has pretty much trashed most of the rules, where violence is commonplace and selfishness is applauded, good manners swim against the stream. Good manners take time, they slow us down, they force us to think about others, and how we'd like to be treated ourselves. They're the 11th Commandment and the Golden Rule.

So if you're with me, if you agree that adhering to some code of social grace is good for our society and better for our souls, then I invite you to join Miss Clara and my friend Amy, and stop honking your horn so much, for God's sake.