ETIQUETTE

I am finding it hard to portray to my daughter how important it is to be polite. When I was growing up, it was generally expected of kids not to interrupt their parents, to say hello and yes and no to adults and other kids, but now it seems that what I want for her is in constant conflict with her peer norms. They spend their time on our phones, they talk to the back of our heads from the back seat so we can't make eye contact, people start talking without saying hello, chew with their mouth full and take what they want, not considering others or saying please or thank you!

Admittedly, over time, my job has eroded my politeness skills also. I sometimes talk while a do a task without looking up. Sometimes I interrupt. Sometimes I forget to say please. But at the end of the day, its the people that are kind and polite that make my day. That take the time to ask how I am before asking me a favour. That consider the human being in front of them, and not the cog in the wheel. So I try to impress these things on my daughter, but I wonder if I just sound critical.

So, say hello to your neighbour. Give your colleague 4 minutes of your time before you launch into what task you want to ask them to do. Say please and thank you to your kid. Say sorry to your spouse when you wreck their brand new purchase.  Choose to see another person's point of view before choosing what you want. Stop for a pedestrian at a cross walk.  Make someone's day!