Manners

I was recently discussing manners of children with some of my friends. As a teacher, I teach a unit on manners every year. As a mom, I teach a lesson on manners daily! :) It doesn't matter how old my children get there always seems to be something new to teach them. As a church member,  I've taught adults how to teach their children manners. So, you would think it would come naturally to me. I think manners is something that our society is losing as a whole. Now, I'm not sure if this is from lack of teaching, lack of patience or lack of concern for others. Here are some of the things I have done with my kids.

1) I cooked one meal for them growing up. Now I usually made a meat and three with a dessert. I didn't demand them to eat or beg them to eat. If they didn't eat no dessert or any other food until breakfast.  A child won't starve themselves when food is offered on a regular basis. They had to be asked to be excused from the table. If they got up without permission their food went in the trash and they had to wait for breakfast. (This only happened a few times then lesson learned.)  My intention in this thought was to teach them to eat instead of eat all day long on junk. They were offered three meals a day with healthy snacks in between meals.  I also wanted them to be able to go over a friends house without a special meal needing to be prepared for them. We also go around the table and everyone gives their high/lo of the day. The best thing that happened that day and the worst thing that happened that day. This has opened up so many different discussions.

2) A fight with a sibling doesn't call for everyone going to separate rooms, I create situations where they had to stay together. Just the other day, my oldest and youngest got into several fights in a short period of time. I sent them to the grocery store together with a list of about 40 things to purchase. Of course, I wrote these down in random order so they had to go down every aisle several times. They then had to sleep on the couch together for the night. Before long they were laughing. My intention or thought behind this type of lesson is throughout life you will come into contact with people whom you will have to get along with and won't always get your way. Many aspects of life are created through compromise. 

3) Saying please, thank you, yes ma'am and no ma'am! I realize this is so very hard to keep track of on a daily basis but we try. I want my children to always treat others with kindness whether the other person deserves it or not. Every day before they leave for school. I say some of these phrases and/or statements. Have the best day of your life. Make good choices. KTWK (Kill Them with Kindness) Do your best and try hard. Complete every task as if you are completing for Christ.