Table manners

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all are so smug. Get a life.

But once you get a life, you won't be able to do anything fun with it if you don't have decent table manners.

Decent table manners won't get you anywhere if you are a judgmental jerk.

Bad table manners will most definitely hold you back, no matter what other sterling qualities you may possess. And you seem like a bit of a jerk yourself, so if you chewed with your mouth open and reached across your dining companion for the salt, you'd be totally screwed.

PP is correct. I personally know of someone who was being considered for a position of Sr. VP of a large corporation and interviewer took him to lunch at a posh NY restaurant and two other executives, one woman, joined them. The interviewee did not hold the female's chair (strike 1); did not break his bread, buttered entire roll and stuffed it in his mouth; (Strike 2); did not know how to hold his fork and speared his food, used back of his hand to wipe his mouth, (Strike 3). Bad table manners cost this man a very good job and probably has held him back all his life.

In my family, good table and social manners were a given, and it is the same with my children. Good manners will open doors that the best education cannot.

[Anonymous]

kids at k-7 ages are expected to sit at the lunch table at school and eat without getting up. They may not use a lot of good manners at school, but they certainly can stay at the table. (mine still have to be reminded of this). If they can't sit in their chair properly (i.e. rocking on the legs), I tell them to stand and eat without a chair.

You are doing them a favor by telling them that you have rules that they have to follow. They may not follow them at their own house, but it is good that they will know about manners and they will be able to use them when they think it is expected.

[Anonymous]

Both my children, 8 and 3 have been taught since they were out of a high chair what is proper behavior at the table. Wherever we have taken them from a Waffle House to 5 star restaurant they have always been complimented on their manners from other diners and wait staff. I am proud of them.

Table manners mean you can go anywhere and eat with anyone from the guys at roadhouse to dining with an ambassador - manners will allow you to one day be an ambassador.

I would NOT indulge these children in bad behavior. I know their parents would not see it that way, and I know it's hard to broach the subject but you seem to be a good friend - I think if you find the words in the nicest way possible you should tell her.

[Anonymous]

OP here. We have them for two more days and have had lots of improvement over their visit with us. There just wasn't any way I was going to allow mass chaos at meal times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both my children, 8 and 3 have been taught since they were out of a high chair what is proper behavior at the table. Wherever we have taken them from a Waffle House to 5 star restaurant they have always been complimented on their manners from other diners and wait staff. I am proud of them.

Table manners mean you can go anywhere and eat with anyone from the guys at roadhouse to dining with an ambassador - manners will allow you to one day be an ambassador.

I would NOT indulge these children in bad behavior. I know their parents would not see it that way, and I know it's hard to broach the subject but you seem to be a good friend - I think if you find the words in the nicest way possible you should tell her.

Don't forget about being overly aggressive and self-centered. Those qualities help, too.