If I were forced to choose one trait more important than any other for my kids to have, it would be being exceedingly polite. There are very few character flaws that aren't at least softened by kind manners and gracious behavior. Eric and I use good manners 99% of the time so it seems to come easily to my kids. It's just habit. Somehow, though, both of them ended up getting things backward.
Back when Sam refused to talk for several years one of the few words he used was 'please.' He said it when he asked for something and he said it when something was given to him. I remember the Christmas before he turned two. As he opened his presents, each time the gift was revealed he'd cry, "Oh! Please!" He didn't say 'thank you' for one thing but I allowed it.
My children are opposite in every way. Matilda will only say 'thank you.' Whether she's reaching up to the snack cupboard or asking to get up on the couch, she asks over and over, "Tang too. Tang too? Tang too? Tang too?" I'd estimate that I say 'you're welcome' about 50,000 times a day.
Either way, I'm proud of their (oddly reversed) good manners.
2 comments:
That's an intriguing parenting question.
I think my one emphasized trait would be flexibility. So it didn't happen quite as you want? That's okay.
P.S. You have to label this one musings - because I am so intrigued by this.
Clare, you get me. You've noticed I only tag "worthy" musings as musings? I'm much simpler to understand than I previously thought.
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