Civility Continued!

Parents and teachers, I encourage you to invest the time and energy to teach kids that Civility Counts!

 Spend family time demonstrating handshakes and polite greetings. Saying please and thank you are so important. You can ask your children mock interview questions for fun and practice.  Share examples of how being courteous paid off for you.  Also share examples of how rudeness cost you or a family member a good opportunity.

I have modified my classroom expectations to be discussed and SHARED at home.

                                   SUGGESTED HOME CIVILITY EXPECTATIONS

* WHEN ENTERING THE HOME OR MEETING ANY RELATIVE SAY “GOOD MORNING, GOOD AFTERNOON, OR GOOD EVENING”. ESPECIALLY USE THESE GREETING BEFORE ASKING/DEMANDING WHAT YOU WANT. YES, DEAR CHILDREN, YOU WANT WHAT YOU WANT AND EXPECT TO GET IT AND WILL POUT AND SULK IF YOU DO NOT GET YOUR WAY! WHEN YOU DELIVIER YOUR GREETING SPEAK UP! DO NOT MUMBLE AND DO USE GOOD EYE CONTACT. YES, IT IS GOING TO SEEM WIERD, WHACKED, OR WHATEVER YOUTHS SAY.        I  AM TELLING YOU TO MAKE THE EFFORT TO INVEST IN YOURSELF. YOU ARE WORTH IT.

* BE POLITE AT ALL TIMES, SAY “PLEASE,” “THANK YOU,” EXCUSE ME,” “YOU’RE WELCOME” AND “PLEASE BE QUIET” (INSTEAD OF “SHUT UP!”)

* LISTEN TO ALL SPEAKERS RESPECTFULLY.  NO LOOKING AT YOUR CELL PHONE! (YOU KNOW DARN WELL IT IS RUDE)

* LOOK AT PEOPLE’S FACE WHEN THEY ARE TALKING TO YOU. NOT FACING THE PERSON WHO IS TALKING, LOOKING AWAY, ETC ARE A SIGN OF RUDENESS AND LACK OF INTEREST. AS WELL AS RESPECT. COME ON…CHILDREN ARE SO QUICK TO BLAME THEIR LACK OF INFORMATION ON NOT HEARING OR SAY, “NO BODY TOLD ME!”

* INSULTING, TEASING AND BULLYING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.  THESE TOPICS MAY BE DIFFICULT BUT AN OPEN DISCUSSION WILL BE WORTHWHILE. BELIVE ME.  IS YOUR CHILD BULLIED OR TEASED? IS YOUR CHILD A BULLY?

* NO GOSSIPING ALLOWED! YES, MY DEARS THIS MAY BE DIFFICULT…THERE IS NOTHING LIKE CHEWING ON A PIECE OF JUCIY TANTALIZING GOSSIP.  PLEASE DISTINGUISH BETWEEN WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW AND IDLE, VICIOUS, MEAN SPIRITED GOSSIP. GOSSIP IS BOTH DISRESPECTFUL AND UNPROFESSIONAL.

•  WHEN GUEST VISIT PARENTS MAKE SURE YOUR CHILDREN GREET THEM IN

   A COURTEOUS MANNER. THIS IS GOOD PRACTICE

* OK THIS IS A TOUGH ONE…ASK YOUR CHILDERN TO INTRUDUCE THEIR FRIENDS TO YOU. BELIEVE ME, AFTER TEACHING TEENAGERS FOR 32 YEARS THAT’S THE LAST THING THEY WANT TO DO. MOST DO NOT WANT THEIR PARENTS TO MEET THEIR FRIENDS BECAUSE THEY FEAR THEIR PARENTS WILL HARSHLY JUDGE THEIR FRIENDS. (HONESTLY, IN A FEW CASES THEY SHOULD…I HAVE 32 YEARS WORTH OF STORIES THAT WOULD CURL A PARENT’S TOENAILS!).

*  EXPLAIN WHY CHILDREN MUST CLEAN UP WHAT THEY MESS UP! THEY MUST NOT ASSUME OR EXPECT SOMEONE ELSE TO CLEAN UP THEIR MESS. FURTHER EXPLAIN THAT THEY WOULD BE THE FIRST TO WHINE AND COMPLAIN ABOUT CLEANING UP AFTER SOMEONE ELSE!

Invest in your child’s future now! It is not too late. Knowing how to greet a bank manager for a loan, impress a potential employer or ace a graduate interview, give your teens the confident advantage that gracious social skills provide.  My darling parents! Please use this pandemic quarantine/ COVID19 circumstance to teach your children how to be kind and considerate and civil to all when we have the privilege of gathering together again!