As a nation we seem to have lost the ability to be courteous to each other. When was the last time someone held a door for you, said excuse me or even thank you?
Everyday we are surrounded by rude people. Recently at work I was walking up the stairs as two women were walking down. Instead of one of the women moving to the same side as the other woman, they both barreled down the stairs as if I wasn’t trying to come up them. I actually had to step backwards, onto the landing to keep from being run over.
These were not teenagers at the mall, these were women in their twenties working in an office building.
Everyone is eager to blame all of our problems on the breakdown of the family. Rudeness does not depend on whether you are raised in an intact family or not, it’s what you are taught.
I always wanted Hailey to be polite and respectful. As a single mother I needed to depend on other people to take care of my child, I wanted her to be a joy for them. I didn’t want my child to be rude and obnoxious, who would volunteer to take care of a child like that?
I’ve always stressed the importance of common courtesy. Treating other people with respect. It’s funny, people are quick to blame single parents but I’ve heard more married moms and dads express the opinion that their children do not need to respect their elders because respect is something earned not given freely.
My mother’s wrath would have been fierce had she found me disrespecting my elders. Everyone deserves respect. Please, thank you, excuse me are such little things and saying them does not demean you as a human being.
I learned, from my mother and grandparents, that other people have rights too. This world and everyone in it wasn’t put here for me. We are all part of something larger and we have to share this space. Teach your children to be polite and be polite in return. Kindness matters.