What’s that saying about kindness (or some other virtue, I can’t recall) beginning at home. Does anyone remember? Well, you are probably familiar with the idea even if I don’t have the exact words. Everything begins at home. The good the bad and the ugly.

A lot of kids have the impression that good manners are something you use in public or while visiting at someone else’s house. That it’s not necessary to use them at home among family. The truth is, home, with your family (who loves, teaches and forgives you) is exactly the place to practice all this stuff. If we want our children to have good manners and be considerate of others, we should accept no less in our own home.

I’m sure you’ve seen kids who don’t use good manners (assuming they have been taught some!) with their parents or at home. If you haven’t, I want to know where you live. They ask for things without saying please, they interupt conversations, etc. in general showing little consideration for their own family members. Don’t dare sit across from them at the dinner table!

How can we expect our kids to use good manners out in the world if we don’t insisit they do so at home? Home is the place to hone these abilities. To learn what’s appropriate and what isn’t. To practice apologies and table manners, waiting your turn, and being respectful of others. If we want our kids to be successful in the world (whatever that means) we owe it to them to help them build these skills which will serve them well wherever they go in life. 

If we don’t, who is going to want to live with them?

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