National Children's Good Manners Month

National Children's Good Manners MonthBack-to-school time is a great time to start fresh with your child's behavior training. Good manners should start at home. Unfortunately if parents don't know how to behave, then children rarely have a chance to learn etiquette skills. Nowadays, most parents send their children off to daycare or school with the attitude of "You fix 'em--I don't have time."

Parents should take responsibility and teach their children how to behave before they send them off to school. Remember that today's children are tomorrow's leaders. Here's some tips that might help you get started teaching your child how to behave:

~Teach your child to share with others.
~Teach your child to wait their turn.
~Teach your child not to interrupt when others are speaking.
~Teach your child the importance of being honest.
~Teach your child the importance of good sportsmanship...not everyone will be a winner and children need to know that when they do not win, it's not the end of their world! Children should be taught how to lose gracefully!

Here's a couple of etiquette books I recommend to parents of small children and teenagers:

For little girls...this one is just the best...White Gloves and Party Manners, by Marjabelle Young (Stewart) and Ann Buchwald
Stand Up, Shake Hands, Say "How Do You Do?" by Marjabelle Young Stewart and Ann Buchwald...an excellent book for little boys

Teen Manners, From Malls to Meals to Messaging and Beyond, by Cindy Post Senning and Peggy Post...a must-have for teenagers. This book answers questions that come up in real life.

Any of these books would make a great gift for a child or teenager. Even better, study the book with them and brush up on your own etiquette skills!

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not turn from it."
Proverbs 22:6

Thank you so much for stopping by today.

Party Etiquette

If you love parties like I do, make sure you practice "Party Etiquette" so that you'll be invited back!

 
R.s.v.p.  If you don't R.s.v.p., you are committing a huge etiquette faux pas and will surely be taken off the host' party list.  Also, do not bring an uninvited guest.

Don't arrive early.  The host will be busy with last-minute preparations and will not have the time to entertain you.

Bring a gift to the host {champagne or wine}.

Greet your host and say thank you for the invite.

Mingle with the other guests.  Don't be a wallflower.

Don't overindulge in alcohol and don't eat like you are a starving field hand.

Remember to practice good dining etiquette skills.

Offer to help clean up.

Don't overstay your welcome.

After you have said your goodbyes to all the guests, thank your host before you leave.

Remember to send a thank-you note to your host.  The. Next. Day.

Cell Phone Etiquette

July is National Cell Phone Courtesy Month, founded by Jacqueline Whitmore, of The Protocol School of Palm Beach.

Cell phones have become an integral part of our lives.  With all the apps available on our phones, the little gadgets are becoming indispensable and we use them to connect with the world.

These are a few reminders about Cell Phone Etiquette:

~Turn your cell phone to the "Manners Mode" {silent/vibrate} in public places;  i.e., meetings, churches, restaurants, and public forums.

~If you are expecting an important phone call, if possible, let others know and step away to receive the call...it's an etiquette faux pas to have a phone conversation in front of others.

~Don't talk loudly on the phone in a public place...it's a phone, not a megaphone.

~Don't use vulgar language and don't talk about personal information in public...think before you talk!

~It's inappropriate to use a cell phone in a public restroom...it's tres tacky!

~Don't talk on your cell phone when you are paying for purchases.  I see this happening all the time...it is so disrespectful to the cashier!

~Texting and driving is against the law in most states and has proven to be very dangerous...don't do it!

Letitia Baldrige

I was saddened to hear of the recent passing of the etiquette maven Letitia Baldrige.  Her obituary in the New York Times pays tribute to her life as an etiquette advisor, author, and as the Social Secretary to Jacqueline Kennedy.

Ms. Baldrige surely lived a very interesting life...In this photo she is seen emerging from the limo to accompany Ms. Kennedy at the National Gallery of Art, in Washington, D.C. on November 3, 1961.

As Ms. Kennedy's Social Secretary, Ms. Baldrige was responsible for orchestrating many social and state events at the White House in the 60's.

Letitia Baldrige published 20 books in her lifetime and these are some of her books I recommend to those of you who wish to learn about proper etiquette or to brush up on your social and dining etiquette skills!

"New Manners for New Times," my go-to etiquette manual!

"More Than Manners," is a great book to use when teaching children manners at-home.

"Taste: Acquiring What Money Can't Buy!"  This was the last book Ms. Baldrige published in 2007.

Ten years ago, I was honored to meet and have a sit-down with Ms. Baldrige at a Southern Lady Event...it was so very gracious of her to give of her time, even though I don't think she felt well that evening.  

Letitia Baldrige

1926 ~ 2012

Here Comes Honey Boo Boo Child...

Love it or hate it...the premiere show of "Honey Boo Boo" scored #1 in its time slot with 2.2 million viewers.  While some love the show, others detest everything about it!  Social media is all in a tizzy over this show.  I must admit, that just like the show "Hoarders," I just can't look away!

As a fan of "Toddlers and Tiaras," I remember when 6 year-old Alana Thompson was featured last year on the show--where really little girls strut their stuff on stage to win crowns, money, and the coveted "Ultimate Grand Supreme" title.  While usually 3 children are featured each week, Honey Boo Boo was an instant standout, which got her to her own show "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo!"

Lord have mercy y'all, Honey Boo Boo is NOT your typical child beauty queen.

 

Honey Boo Boo's usual Glam Pageant "Outfit of the Day":   Age-inappropriate makeup, lots of sequins, and hair "Jacked up to Jesus"

Here is Honey Boo Boo with her coupon-queen Mama June.  Honey lives with her family in rural McIntyre, Georgia...population 700.  The family home is filled with bargains Mama June buys with coupons to help save money to finance Honey's pageant fees! 

Here is little Miss Honey with her Dance Coach Amanda Carter.

Now y'all might wonder if Honey Boo Boo and I have anything in common?  Well, I certainly wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth.  Like Miss Honey, I was raised in Georgia and have met my share of little girls just like her!

Honey and I both love our pets...mine is a Yorkie named "Coco" who wears clothes that match mine and Honey's pet is a pig named "Glitzy" who wears a tiara.  I can't judge. 

Like Miss Janice, Honey also has her own "Signature Beverage!"  She calls it her "Go-Go Juice," a mixture of Mountain Dew and Red Bull.  {This is not good Miss Honey}  Neither are those pixie stick straws--aka "Pageant Crack" which Honey puts down during pageant time...they are full of powdered candy that is mostly sugar.

In an upcoming episode, Honey travels to Warner Robins, Georgia with former Miss Georgia, Michaela Lackey.  They dined at one of my favorite sandwich shops near Mama's house.--McCall's.   This place has the BEST cakes and Honey sampled the Pina Colada, Chocolate Caramel, and Bananna Pudding Cakes...all favorites of mine!

I love beauty pageants y'all.  Always have.  From Toddlers and Tiaras to the Mrs. Senior America...I love them all.  What I would really love to do???  I would love to travel to McIntyre and meet with Honey Boo Boo and her family to teach them social and dining etiquette. 

Remember, good manners will open doors that money or the best education cannot!