12/Jul/2009
Have We Lost Our Manners?
By Jill Rigby Garner
Editor’s Note: This is one in a series of articles by well-known parent adviser and Baton Rouge resident Jill Rigby-Garner. She has been featured on numerous television and radio shows and has received praise from students, teachers and experts like Dr. Laura Schlessinger.
When I was growing up, people weren’t perfect, but society was certainly more civil. Folks respected each other because it was the right thing to do, not because they’d be respected in return. Manners were the rule rather than the exception.
Manners were defined as an attitude of the heart that is self-giving not self-serving. Well mannered people looked for ways to help others rather than choosing to help themselves. They believed what they gave the world was more important than what they were given in return. But in today’s fast-paced world I’m afraid we’ve lost our manners.
Manners have now become the exception, rather than the rule.
Fred Astaire, the quintessential gentleman, once said, “It’s hard to teach children manners when they don’t see any.” Ouch! Children learn twice as much from what we do as they learn from what we say. They will imitate our actions and reflect our attitudes, but often will forget our words unless we model manners of the heart ourselves.
We can’t expect more of our children than we expect from ourselves. When we set examples of giving unselfishly to others, our children learn to give unselfishly of themselves.
To be an example for your children:
Jill Rigby Garner is an award-winning author, accomplished speaker, family advocate and founder of Manners of the Heart. For more practical ideas and inspiration on how to instill manners in your child’s heart, visit www.mannersoftheheart.org.
By Jill Rigby Garner
Editor’s Note: This is one in a series of articles by well-known parent adviser and Baton Rouge resident Jill Rigby-Garner. She has been featured on numerous television and radio shows and has received praise from students, teachers and experts like Dr. Laura Schlessinger.
When I was growing up, people weren’t perfect, but society was certainly more civil. Folks respected each other because it was the right thing to do, not because they’d be respected in return. Manners were the rule rather than the exception.
Manners were defined as an attitude of the heart that is self-giving not self-serving. Well mannered people looked for ways to help others rather than choosing to help themselves. They believed what they gave the world was more important than what they were given in return. But in today’s fast-paced world I’m afraid we’ve lost our manners.
Manners have now become the exception, rather than the rule.
Fred Astaire, the quintessential gentleman, once said, “It’s hard to teach children manners when they don’t see any.” Ouch! Children learn twice as much from what we do as they learn from what we say. They will imitate our actions and reflect our attitudes, but often will forget our words unless we model manners of the heart ourselves.
We can’t expect more of our children than we expect from ourselves. When we set examples of giving unselfishly to others, our children learn to give unselfishly of themselves.
To be an example for your children:
- Say “Thank you” throughout the day for little courtesies given to you.
- Take time to compliment others on a job well done.
- Be quick to hold a door open for another.
- Say a prayer the next time you hear a siren or see an emergency to show them how to watch for others in need.
- Be kindhearted toward the elderly.
- Sit with the not-so-popular classmate in the school cafeteria.
- Share the spotlight on the sports field.
- Serve their brothers and sisters
Jill Rigby Garner is an award-winning author, accomplished speaker, family advocate and founder of Manners of the Heart. For more practical ideas and inspiration on how to instill manners in your child’s heart, visit www.mannersoftheheart.org.
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