Strange etiquette/grammar things your mom was a stickler for

[Anonymous]

I say "yes?" Instead of what
People have told me I sound like jeeves and wooster

[Anonymous]

milk in a jug on the table never a carton or bottle
never drink from a bowl
never put the knife in your mouth
never put your elbows on the table
never clear up before everyone has finished
never take food off another person's plate

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“I beg your pardon” instead of “what.”

Of course “what” is U and “I beg your pardon” is non-U, so...

[Anonymous]

Never start eating your meal until your mother (or your host, depending on where you are) begins to eat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“I beg your pardon” instead of “what.”

Of course “what” is U and “I beg your pardon” is non-U, so...

Sticklers come from all walks of life!

[Anonymous]

Sir and Ma’am was drilled into my head. My first professional job interview asked me why I didn’t mention my military service
I’m in my 40’s now and still say ma’am/sir to anyone older than me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“I beg your pardon” instead of “what.”

Ugh, this is so middle-class.

Are you class-shaming me because of an etiquette quirk of my long-dead mother? That’s hilarious! (And she was actually a scrappy working class immigrant, btw. Seriously, though- thank you, snobby poster. I got a kick out of that.)

[Anonymous]

I am doing WELL! It went WELL!

And obviously... yes, please. No, thank you.

And we had to eat all our vegetables.

[Anonymous]

My mom would revert to her native language for words she found crude, like "booger."

I have a pretty weird Swedish vocabulary!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The one that immediately leaps to mind, OP, is not ending a sentence with "for."

Not ending a sentence with a preposition is not a real grammar rule.

[Anonymous]

Mr and Mrs no first names

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mom would revert to her native language for words she found crude, like "booger."

I have a pretty weird Swedish vocabulary!

We do this in our house but in French and Hindi. We had to tell our DD she can't talk back at school in either language.

[Anonymous]

She taught me to always acknowledge and thank people for gifts.

If the givers were not local it meant I sat down and wrote a note/card that was mailed.

Displaying this type of gratitude is now considered passe'.

[Anonymous]

"like". She rooted it out. I do the same to my kids.

The sad thing is I hear their TEACHERS using it on distance learning!

[Anonymous]

I'm really grateful for this one: don't point something embarrassing out to people that they can't change in the moment. E.g., first said to me as a child when a lady in the grocery store's bra was glowing through her sweater. My mom modelled a lot of kindness and integrity.