I've been pleasantly surprised lately be some very mannerly kids. It takes kids a while to get their mannerly skills polished up. Some of them never make it. For that matter many adults do not have the mannerly skills when dealing with others.
A woman introduced one of her sons to me and he said, "Pleased to meet you Red." I was very pleased to hear his reply and wondered where it came from. I will find out.
Last night an eight or nine year old girl road by me on her bike . She greeted me and then said, "Have a nice evening." It felt special and again I wondered what the parent had done so that this child was so mannerly.
Tonight I went to a bench to get something out of my shoe. An Asian kid was there and greeted me. As I went to leave he said, "Have a nice evening sir."
These replies from young people impress me and I hope it's a sign that parents are teaching good behavior and manners. Kids with these skills have much more confidence in themselves and we have fewer problems in society.
Your three recent experiences with children give cause for optimism.
ReplyDeleteThat's just what I thought.
DeleteWell mannered kids for sure! Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThey got my attention for sure.
DeleteIt's nice to hear positive stories about kids, Red. So often we hear the opposite and I know there are lots of nice kids out there!
ReplyDeleteThe negative kids seem to get more press.
DeleteI think parents teaching behavior and manners is the only explanation. I know we drill both of those things into our children as my parents did to me.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly has to come from parents and other adults as well.
DeleteKids that are polite is a very nice change from being a little monster. I've seen those too but overall they are polite here.
ReplyDeletethe bad ones stand out.
DeleteSo lovely to hear, and I agree it is such an important skill!
ReplyDeleteThe good kids deserve much more press.
DeleteWe only hear about the rotten kids on the news!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately that's what we hear. When I think back schools did not do much that I remember on this topic.
DeleteNice kids you encountered. I always use please and thank you with the great grands sometimes they look at me funny:)
ReplyDeleteThey will pick it up from you.
DeleteThose are not common occurances around here. Lovely for you though.
ReplyDeleteI also talk to skate boarders . Ask them about their boards and skating and you will have a great conversation.
DeleteMannerly kids are raised by mannerly adults. Unfortunately, many kids do not have good role models.
ReplyDeleteExactly right.
DeleteI meet a lot of nice children. Granted they are the grandchildren and great grandchildren of people who live here...I hope they weren't put on their best behavior.
ReplyDeleteThe more times they get to practice better behavior the more likely it is to stick.
DeleteHow encouraging. You must live in a good neighbourhood.
ReplyDeletefor two of them I was out of the neighborhood.
DeleteY'know what they say, "Canadians are just nice!"
ReplyDeleteWe are smug about things. I'm not sure how nice we are.
DeleteThat IS a good sign. I often worry that as a society we put less and less emphasis on simply being polite to one another.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest ,these three experiences were a shock to me.
DeleteVery heartwarming to read this Red. I have to say that I have been impressed with the good manners of young people I have come into contact with lately.
ReplyDeleteI hope we're on a trend of more mannerly behavior.
DeleteSo, I'm sure as a teacher and role model, Mr. Red, that your students observed your kindness and learned a few things. Those efforts come back around to greet you, eventually, indirectly. Certainly makes for a nice neighborhood. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteI was known to be kind but when I think back we didn't do much to inform kids of positive behavior. Teachers looked at it as parents responsibility.
DeleteThere are good and bad in every generation and I think we see what we want to see. I'm glad you see and remember the good, it's a great attitude to have
ReplyDeleteI always say I'd teach my career over again in a heart beat.
DeleteI just love hearing this. What wonderful, kind and polite children who have been taught excellent manners.
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to see the children that are well behaved and mind, it is important to teach the children manners when they are young.
ReplyDeleteTake care, have a great day!