I think that having an attitude of gratitude is a lost art. The more I look at society, I see “me first” “what’s in it for me” attitudes. From not thanking someone for holding the door for you, to rushing to get in front of a pregnant lady in line at Taco Bell and then ordering for your family of 6 (that was 2 years ago but I’ll never forget. Pregnant ladies need their Taco Bell NOW!), to expecting respect having never given any or earned the right to receive. I just wonder where the words “thank you”, with some meaning behind them, went?
Since when, in our progressive, civilized society, was it our right to get what ever we want, however we want it, with out an ounce of real gratitude for what we have? Since when did people not have to work hard to reap rewards, but instead expect the rewards (and big ones) with almost no work? Since when was stopping to do a small act of kindness or, ahem, common courtesy for someone else too big of a deal? And forget thanking people. People should serve you, shouldn’t they?
I hope we bring back the “Thank You”. That we, as parents, teach our kids that to be respected they need to EARN and DESERVE respect. That we, living in North America, have so much more then we could ever imagine and that saying “we should be grateful” isn’t trite- it’s true.
Nancy, of Flying Solo, asked in her blog, What are you thankful for this weekend?
I can tell you, without a doubt, that I’m thankful for this little miracle:
For getting to see him every day, hear him call me mom, watch him grow and learn, and spend amazing quality time with him. Playing with The Boy has recently become my favourite activity. I look forward to it every day- and I want you to as well!!! So, head on over to My Favourite Playmate and enter our contest to win an amazing DUPLO prize pack and make playtime with your little one(s) something to be truly thankful for!!
Parents only have to look at themselves to see the example they are setting for their children……..rude people have rude children and we can all only hope that somewhere along the way of life, Miss Manners will give lessons. Respect for oneself = respect for each other. Too many people are easily influenced by the rude/crude celebs that ensure they still are in the headlines and the nastier the behaviour the more coverage the more $$$ they make!
We definitely live in the ‘me’ generation. I have watched my little hometown transform from a community where members would look out for each other, and as a child you knew that ANY adult could correct your behaviour to one where a parent is very defensive if you say boo about the child’s behaviour. My husband and I have tried to raise our daughter with an ‘attitude of gratitude’ where she is thankful for all the small things in her life (and she says thank you for driving her to school on those rainy days – we live in the northern rainforest of BC, so those are pretty torrential rains!!) She will wander out of my classroom (I am a teacher) when I don’t have anything she can help me with after school to see if other teachers need help. She never expects anything in return and will often make observations about others who are in need of a few ‘ Miss Manners” classes!! We have been lucky with her as she is very cooperative (not to say that she is by any means perfect as her and I can go head to head over the ‘big’ issues like practicing piano) with most everyone (especially non-family members!!) It is nice to see other members who have instilled good manners into their children as sometimes it is frustrating to see how our society, children included, are becoming so self-centered!!
I’m extremely polite and have passed this on to my children. There are so many rude people out there, and I would never stop being polite even to those who don’t deserve the kindness. They’re just a moment in time that’ll pass. I’m the kind who will see a person slowly making it to a door and say “Take your time!”, and they appreciate that, and I’m glad I have instilled that in my daughters. 😀 And smile, smile, smile, it makes such a difference!!!! :D:D:D
I couldn’t have said it better myself. People are so lost in themselves that they are oblivious to everyone and everything around them. It is extremely frustrating to go anywhere and do anything as people are just rude, rude, rude!!! I am usually shocked when someone does hold the door for me or says thank you for the same. Alas, all I can do is teach my own children to be polite, moral and respectful and perhaps it shall rub off on someone else!!!
Nicely put and I am with you. We were always taught (and they lived it too) from my parents to always say please, thank you and just to be a decent person from day to day. It doesn’t take much to do little things like open the door for someone (doesn’t matter if they are young, old or pregnant), give up your seat on the go train, move to the side if someone is in a hurry, or to say sorry if you accidentally knock someone with your backpack. It puts everyone in a good mood and maybe they will pass that good mood on to someone else. I have also tried to teach my boys and most importantly modeled that behavior in front of them so that they will grow up the same way. I am proud of the fact that my 9 yr old has incredible manners (we’re still working on my 2 yr old little heathen) and I never (seriously) have to remind him to say please, thank you or to hold the door open for someone (Now if I could just get him to stop picking on his brother)