Manners

Good manners are just a way of showing other people that we have respect for them.  ~Bill Kelly

Having 6 kids and being in all kind of activities, I have seen a lot of things that make my head spin.  Also having 18 years and counting  under my belt gives me much experience in this department and over the years it seems to make my head spin more and more.  I hear so much complaints these days about how kids act.  They are not like they used to be years ago.... I hear over and over from people of all ages.  I just wander though, do these people realize they are the adults who mold these young kids?  Kids learn through parents and other family members they are around.  Also when out in public, they see how adults act and they will be molded for life by being exposed to adults in their presence.  Can it be a good affect on young kids.....absolutely!!!!  Can it be a negative affect....you bet! 

Just a few weeks ago at the kids open house I remember sitting there all alone (my quiet time) and watching the people pile in.  I got there super early knowing parking is horrible and it does feel up...one perk from this being my 13th open house in a row at the same school.  At y first open house I did not know anybody..I was the newbie and yes there were cliques.  Some tend to ignore you but some would say Hello and make small talk.  As those years went by I made friends and we would say hello and still have the small talk at these type of gatherings.  Fast Forward 12 years and it does not seem like that.  Yes there are still cliques but they seem more of a mean clique and there was no small talk among other parents.  I watched very carefully.  Parents seem to be different now. 

So the meeting starts and even though they tell you to keep your kids at home nobody follows the rules...ok not even me....we live in walking distance so my kids wanted to come and play at the playground...well just 2 of them.  Since I brought my kids though I know the rules....well at least the rules I make for them.  You sit with me quietly until the administration is done talking and dismisses us.  Then as I go up to the classroom the kids may go and play with their friends outside the building.  Does that happen....NOPE.  The Principal had to ask for attention many times and it really was not even the kids...it was the adults....adults that should know how to use manners.  The parents kepts talking during the whole thing and letting their kids run around. 

Next is Basketball season last year.  By no means are we a sports family.  Our kids are not the top athlete and we don't push them to be.  They play just to say hey look I Play.  We go to their games with all kids in tow.  Call us crazy but during the games our kids stay with us especially when it is indoors.  Baseball games where there is a playground we might let them go but not until they were like at least 6-7 years old.  Well parents now let their kids run crazy.  They are watching their kids play sports while there other kids are doing damage in the building.  It got bad that they almost cancelled the season.  Then not only is it 6+ year old kids but little ones who are 3 and 4 and I guess are expected to be watched by the older kids they are with.  I just don't get it????

OK my last one (I have so many more)  My husband was leading the pack meeting and I sat quietly in the back of the room.  He had to stop speaking many of times because of outburst from kids and even adults who kept talking.  He is standing in the front of the room speaking and going over important issues and I just stand there with my jaw to the floor as parents are getting up and going there and going here and letting there kids go get a drink and run around.  What are we teaching these children?  The older boys put on a skit and I noticed how parents just let their kids e very disrespectful to the kids in the skit by letting them talk.  Its sad so sad to see how parents are raising their kids.

I by far am not perfect at this parenting thing..we all make mistakes and we all make faults.  I just hope that I learn from them and I really to believe I have.  I just hope some of these other parents are learning too.  These children are our future and its already not looking good and if these young kids are not learning basic manners from their parents we just might be in trouble

Blessings!