I'm currently sitting in a restaurant waiting for a carryout (tofu and
broccoli _ my absolute favorite) and there's a kid, about 11 I'd guess,
sitting with his family. The family is trying to enjoy their dinner and
this brat is going out of his way to let everyone know he doesn't want
to be here. Hes sitting slumped over with his giant winter coat hood
over his head whining that he doesn't want to be here. His mom addresses
him and he snaps back "I can't understand you because I'm a 2 year oldK.
Obviously one of the parents had already told him he was acting like a
baby. Bratty bratmcbrat is being so rude, interupting the entire small
restaurant's meals so they asked for boxes to pack their meal to go.
When I was a kid, my parents instilled manners in me. I stil say please
and thank you and excuse me. I wave if you let me in in traffic. My
brother had even better manners than I do. Is it egotistical to say that
I have good manners? I had nothing to do with it. It was all my parents
doing... I don't imagine its easy to do, but when I see an 11 year old
kid who should know enough to not disturb an entire restaurant, it
irritates me. Why does this kid think this is acceptable? Why do his
parents give in to him instead of dragging his ass outside to the cold
car. Make him sit out there if he can't figure out how to behave in
public. I bet he would rectify his attitude real quick if his choice was
behave or sit in a cold dark car by yourself...
The incredibly true adventures of a travel loving kid at heart who just became both an MBA and a recent widow. Navigating widowhood is the hardest thing I've ever done. Come along for the bumps in the journey.
11.16.2006
Manners
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5 comments:
It's not egotistical to say you have good manners--it's just not good manners...
ha! good point
Teaching my kids to have good manners is something that is very difficult. I hate when someone compliments them and they don't say anything and then I have to say, "Use your manners!" Then they respond with, "Thank you!"
I have to say though, my children do know how to behave in public. When they act up, it's not because they don't know the right way to be, it's because they're bored or annoyed. I am sure that kid knew how he was supposed to behave, he just chose to be a brat. Maybe he had a stomach ache. Maybe he did really shitty on a test at school and had to go home and redo the entire thing. Maybe his girlfriend isn't going roller skating with him this weekend. Maybe his mom and dad just told him they were getting divorced. Maybe he had a hangnail. God, raphie, quit being so judgemental.
Yeah, maybe he has a crush on Suzie Anderson but she likes Tommy Johnson! Sheesh!
Or, it could just be the kid is a brat!
My favorite lack of manners is really lack of parenting... when parents let their kids run around a store screaming and causing mayhem. I mean, kids will be kids, so it's up to the parents to keep an eye on them. Except they don't!
ha ha that reminds me of going to florida with a friend (ahem) in the 9th grade with her family & she was so anti going because she was going to miss her boyfriend so much. so almost the whole time we were there she made sure everyone knew, folding her arms & sulking at the ocean, etc. ha ha. i will never let her forget that story. kids!
my mom always taught me "treat people the way you want to be treated" & i am trying to teach my kid the same.
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