Reply to S/O disrespectful teen on the metro? What are we as parents doing wrong?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Just going to be honest - When we moved to DC, my kids' teachers and their their friends' parents were constantly commenting on how well-behaved and well-mannered my children were.  I truly didn't understand it.  They are just typical kids.  After living here for a few months, it made total sense.  Y'all don't raise your kids with manners.  You just don't.  I don't why.  I don't know when it started.  I don't understand it.   But you have failed to teach your kids basic consideration for others.  It has nothing at all to do with money or social status.  It's just the way the kids in DC are raised.

My kids would never dream of not offering a seat on the metro to an adult.  They open doors.  They say "yes ma'am" and "no ma'am".  They aren't loud in public.  AND - and this is important - There is absolutely nothing special about their behavior.  Everyone in our hometown raises their kids to be polite.  I'm not suggesting that they are perfect.  They get in trouble just like all kids.  But they are never, ever, ever disrespectful towards adults.  I have never in my 26 years of parenting (my youngest is 16) received a phone call from a school saying my child was disrespectful or disobedient.  Not one time in 26 years and with 5 kids.  Our kids may break rules and push limits.  But there were raised to be respectful, kind, and considerate.  Y'all miss the mark on this.  [/quote]

They aren't special-you're right. My kids were born and have been raised in NoVA, and they have exceptional manners. Nothing special about your hometown. [/quote]

I think they PP has a great point. We moved from DC to a small town in Florida that many people on DCUM would shun. My children stood out here as absolute hooligans where in DC there was nothing wrong with their manners. I'm so glad they have had this experience. They don't say ma'am and sir now but the level of consideration, courtesy, respect, eye contact is just superior and expected here. People move at a slower pace, yes, but it also means that the teen barista at Starbucks patiently describes the coffee options to the elderly patron with kindness and sincerity you would never find in the DC metro area. Sure there are outliers, parents who have taught manners to their DC kids, but here, it's cultural. Being kind and considerate is more important than test scores. It all depends on what you value as a culture and sure, you can argue that my kids won't be going to Harvard. They also won't be cussing out people on the metro. [/quote]

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