Southern manners and teaching my kids respect

Apr 291 min read

Growing up my mother made sure we said please and thank you, we called adults by their last names until we were invited to do otherwise, and we stood when someone entered the room. My kids are 5 and 8 and I want them to have these manners too. My wife thinks I'm being old-fashioned but honestly in a world where everyone is running around doing whatever they want, there's something classy about a kid who knows how to conduct himself with respect. Just took my boys to a family dinner and another parent actually complimented how well-behaved they were. That felt good. Any of you all doing the same with your kids or is it just me fighting against the times?

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Comments(3)

OOscar D.RegularApr 29

Teaching respect is the foundation for everything else. Down here in Texas we still do the last name thing too, and my kids know the difference between how they talk to their friends and how they talk to their elders.

JJosh E.RegularApr 29

We do Storytime Sundays and I always sneak in the manners lessons while we're at it. Kids pick up on what you model more than what you preach, I've found.

MMitch R.RegularApr 29

Man, this hits home. Working all those hours means I miss out on some of the everyday stuff, but teaching my kids to respect people and say yes sir, no ma'am - that's something I make time for. Your mom did you right.