My mother was very much into teaching manners. We had to excuse ourselves from the kitchen table after eating, had to say excuse me for this and that, had to behave right according to them. Sometimes I wonder if it really mattered but then I see so many kids who are outright not mannerly and it is appalling to me. What happened in your family? Do you agree with it?
Did Your Parents Teach You Manners?
- Thread starter Ruthanne
- Start date
helenbacque
Senior Member
- Location
- Central Florida
Yes, as did society. As Pepper noted …. More by example than lecture.
OldFeller
Well-known Member
- Location
- Pennsylvania, USA
My mother's family all owned businesses and I learned watching them treat customers well.
Capt Lightning
Well-known Member
- Location
- Historic Buchan, Scotland
Yes, they hit me for the slightest hint of 'bad manners' (by their standards).
Jace
Well-known Member
My parents taught by example. My dad was a gentleman and my mother a lady. They treated people respectfully. They were respectful to each other.
Mine, too
dobielvr
Well-known Member
- Location
- California
Yes, she tried.
We even had an etiquette book by Emily Post.
We even had an etiquette book by Emily Post.
officerripley
Well-known Member
- Location
- Porlock, Calif
Only thing I remember being taught is to be neither seen nor heard.
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Devi
Well-known Member
- Location
- East WA USA
We were taught all the usual manners, directly by our parents.
Judycat
Well-known Member
- Location
- Pennsylvania
No. My parents thought children are born knowing manners. If I did something stupid, they would call me stupid. That's all. I wish I were kidding. They should have never had children. Ah what can you do. 
Gaer
"Angel whisperer"
- Location
- New Mexico U.S.A.
Yes, "Don't sing at the table."
"Don't speak unless spoken to."
"If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."
"Don't laugh before breakfast."
"Always behave like a lady."
"Elbows off the table."
No talking at the table."
"You are not to ever argue or talk back when someone makes a statement."
"Don't speak unless spoken to."
"If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."
"Don't laugh before breakfast."
"Always behave like a lady."
"Elbows off the table."
No talking at the table."
"You are not to ever argue or talk back when someone makes a statement."
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Murrmurr
SF VIP
- Location
- Sacramento, California
Table manners - In addition to elbows off the table and all that, Dad filled his plate first, then passed everything to his right, and we sat in order; oldest to youngest. Dad got the largest piece of meat and the last of the sides, so me and my brothers never took the last of anything without Dad's permission. None of us had the balls to ask.
If we forgot our manners, Dad gave us a rap across the knuckles with the handle of his butter knife. I only experienced that once. We ate everything on our plates, excused ourselves from the table and took our plates, glasses and flatware to the sink to scrape and rinse.
Once in a while, after saying "Please may I be excused from the table?" Dad would bark, "No, you may not!" That meant you had a lecture coming after everyone else was excused wuuun at a time for forever while you tried not to fidget in your chair.
Every adult man was "Sir" and every adult woman was "Ma'am." You could say "'morning, Gramps," but when he asked "Learn anything at school today?" you'd answered "Yes, sir."
I didn't teach my kids manners the same way my Dad taught us, and I only taught them to be courteous and respectful.
If we forgot our manners, Dad gave us a rap across the knuckles with the handle of his butter knife. I only experienced that once. We ate everything on our plates, excused ourselves from the table and took our plates, glasses and flatware to the sink to scrape and rinse.
Once in a while, after saying "Please may I be excused from the table?" Dad would bark, "No, you may not!" That meant you had a lecture coming after everyone else was excused wuuun at a time for forever while you tried not to fidget in your chair.
Every adult man was "Sir" and every adult woman was "Ma'am." You could say "'morning, Gramps," but when he asked "Learn anything at school today?" you'd answered "Yes, sir."
I didn't teach my kids manners the same way my Dad taught us, and I only taught them to be courteous and respectful.
Naturally
Well-known Member
- Location
- Corner of Walk 'n Don't Walk
My grandmother more than anyone, taught me manners.
She worked in retail at a local department store in furniture.
And if misbehaved badly enough, would get a pinch. She only pinched once that I remember. It hurt.
Think it hurt her more than it did me. She loved us.
She worked in retail at a local department store in furniture.
And if misbehaved badly enough, would get a pinch. She only pinched once that I remember. It hurt.
Think it hurt her more than it did me. She loved us.
Did Your Parents Teach You Manners?
Not really
I was pretty much not heard...or seen
If anybody taught me, it was Gramma
She raised me more than anyone
If I did something outa hand, I'd get the over the glasses look
...'nough for me
She did put up a bit of a fuss at Mongomery Wards when she had to fish my hand out of a spittoon with which I'd found interest
But, that was early in the inquisitive part of my childhood career
officerripley
Well-known Member
- Location
- Porlock, Calif
Same exact thing here, exactly.No. My parents thought children are born knowing manners. If I did something stupid, they would call me stupid. That's all. I wish I were kidding. They should have never had children. Ah what can you do.
Avon
Member
- Location
- Yea Old Country
Do forums make people delusional?
If you can't say something nice don't say anything at all. Pretty is as pretty does. Children were not to speak unless spoken to.
Thank you notes were a must. (I wish they still were. I often have to ask "Did you get what I sent?"
I had an Emily Post book. My aunt was the one who gave it to me. She didn't think my parents were doing an adequate job with manners.
Thank you notes were a must. (I wish they still were. I often have to ask "Did you get what I sent?"
I had an Emily Post book. My aunt was the one who gave it to me. She didn't think my parents were doing an adequate job with manners.
MountainRa
Senior Member
- Location
- Upstate SC, USA
My parents and other relatives taught by example.
But thinking back, a great deal of actual manners were taught by our school teachers from kindergarten through about 6th grade. Among other things, we had to learn the correct protocols for introducing people to one another based on ages, gender, perceived status, and so forth. We would have to actually practice introductions, making polite conversations, and using manners in the lunchroom.
We were also taught manners by Sunday School teachers for interacting at church.
Truthfully, I’ve forgotten much of it ( especially introduction protocol) but it is why I , as a native born Southerner, will never ever be able to break the habit of yes ma’am, no ma’am, yes sir, no sir no matter who I am speaking with.
But thinking back, a great deal of actual manners were taught by our school teachers from kindergarten through about 6th grade. Among other things, we had to learn the correct protocols for introducing people to one another based on ages, gender, perceived status, and so forth. We would have to actually practice introductions, making polite conversations, and using manners in the lunchroom.
We were also taught manners by Sunday School teachers for interacting at church.
Truthfully, I’ve forgotten much of it ( especially introduction protocol) but it is why I , as a native born Southerner, will never ever be able to break the habit of yes ma’am, no ma’am, yes sir, no sir no matter who I am speaking with.
My mother did teach me manners. She was very strict on table manners especially.
When I first arrived in the USA, I was not used to eat with my fingers such as fast food or pizza. I was always looking around for a knife and fork, LOL!
I am used to it now and when alone or with just my husband, I even lick the ketchup off my burger!
When I first arrived in the USA, I was not used to eat with my fingers such as fast food or pizza. I was always looking around for a knife and fork, LOL!
I am used to it now and when alone or with just my husband, I even lick the ketchup off my burger!
