Please Pass the Mashed Potatoes

My Grandma Marty set a fancy table every night for dinner with cloth napkins and fine china. She was into the whole manners thing too. Tho I did not know her well, I believe all that I have heard when I see the many, many sets of china she had in her home. I don't think it takes fancy dishes and tablecloths to be mannered, but rather a desire to be refined and gracious to the people we come in contact with. Something is missing in our world. Well, a lot of somethings are missing, but if we could start with some genuine manners we might get somewhere.
When I was listening to the news this morning they were discussing the lack of manners in our society. I decided to look some up and make it a matter of changing my family's bad habits, mine included, to make a difference.
Last fall I read a book Jenna was reading in one of her classes called " Crucial Conversations". It was a very powerful book about how some people are so effective in their ability to communicate they can soften others to listen, care about what is being discussed, and then move into action with a great attitude. In contrast, conversations that are pushy or " My Way or the Highway" are ineffective and rude. This can get the job "done" but not without you having the reputation of being rude or pushy....BAD MANNERS! This book was sitting on my table this morning and again I thought, " We need better manners."
So here is what I found on table manners. The lists of manners in all situations are endless, but I started with table manners.We eat every day.
Can manners change the world? I think so.

1. Say Hello - Simple as it seems, many today are not taught basic introduction skills.
2. Playing Host - Be sure to take coats and bags at the door. Also, make sure children know how to greet relatives and guests.
3. The Power of No-Thank-You - Teach kids how to offer up a gracious, yet firm no thank you without further elaboration on just why they are not interested in that stinky pate or moldy cheese.
4. Sitting Still - Remind kids to sit up straight, with their napkins on their laps, and elbows off the table.
5. Passing Food - Teach kids to ask for food rather than reaching across a table.
6. Set It Right - Learning proper table setting is the perfect excuse to get your child to set the table every night.
7. Wait for the Hostess - Especially at large family gatherings, it can be tempting to dive into your feast while the potatoes are still going around.
8. Be a Model - Instead of going on and on about everything a child is not supposed to do at the table, encourage her to look to you as an example.
9. Table Talk - It's never too early to teach kids how to make some pleasant conversation.
10. Smile - A smile washes over a thousand sins.