Kanye and Serena and Joe

Dear Good Manners Devotees':

With apologies to those who were looking forward to the pet manners posting I had promised last time I wrote to you, I find that I am compelled, instead, to say something about the very bad manners we've witnessed recently.

Now, Good Manners Fans, I will confess that I am far from perfect. Really.

I have had an explosion or two (or three) in my time when I felt that I was being unfairly treated. I've also felt outrage for a friend or person who may have also been unfairly treated -- and sometimes I've acted on it.

I've felt my blood pressure rise when I feel someone is lying to me or wrong and I don't want that person to get away with it or think that I don't know what the real facts are (please note that I'm not trying to be political here -- just telling you my own personal reactions to situations that I've been in).

Each time that I've felt compelled to react, I've almost immediately been horrified about what I did. I apologize even if I felt I was in the right because the way I handled it was unacceptable.

So let's be honest: Who amongst us, while saying we're appalled at the way Kanye, Serena and Joe acted, hasn't done something similar? Maybe not as big or as over-the-top, but something that just wasn't right?

What if we were in the spotlight when we yelled at our child's soccer coach or became upset with someone at work who completely let us down or told our friends that so and so at the PTO meeting shouldn't have been re-elected because she didn't have a clue about the results of the book drive?

In the very public examples of Kanye, Serena and Joe we're horrified that they thought it was okay to behave that way, and that quite possibly they may feel they can act that way because they are above the rules of behaviour that normal mortals should follow. Whereas in our situations we feel justified. Isn't this a perfect example of "Do as I say, not as I do?"

We should all learn a lesson in civility from the events of the past few days. It's no surprise that the words "civil" and "civility" are all part of the word civilization. Because how we treat each other -- being "civil" or "uncivil"-- will ultimately affect our civilization and world.

I, personally, wouldn't want an outburst at work or the playing field or the PTO meeting to contribute to the downfall of civilization as we know it. Would you?

Heavy stuff and responsibility, I know.

So, until my next cuddly post about pets and manners, I going to do my part to contribute to the good of civilization by working on keeping my temper and keeping my mouth closed!

Best Regards,

Leslie
www.goodmannerskidsstuff.com
Because good manners might just make the world a better place!

Airplane Manners

Dear Good Manners Devotees':

Today I am squeezing in a quick post between weeding and making a salad to bring to a picnic to which the Good Manners Family is invited.

(I trust that many of you won't even be around to read this because you have your own days filled with home chores and picnics over this holiday weekend!)

My topic today: airplane manners.

The Good Manners Aunt and Uncle suggested this topic after traveling this summer. And if you have ever flown even just once, you will certainly agree on this bad manners point.

It's not the obvious bad manners -- the person behind you kicking the seat, or the person in front of you reclining back into your lap, or (I can't even bear to think about them) the bathrooms -- but a basic common sense courtesy.

Waiting your turn when disembarking the plane.

Why people can't wait until the people in front of them get off the plane is beyond me!

We experienced this ourselves after a seven hour flight during which we were part of a chaperon group for 30+ children. (Believe me, if anyone wanted to run screaming from the plane, it was I!) But we waited patiently while the people in front of us got their personal effects together and walked down the aisles. Then we got pushed to the side, stumbling back into the seats when people behind us weren't able to wait their turn.

Here is what makes me laugh every time: we always see the same person/people who couldn't wait their turn to get off the plane waiting at the baggage claim where we all get our luggage at the same time.

(Dear Good Manners Devotees', I must admit that we do allow ourselves a gleeful "Ha!" Is that bad manners?)

So they've made the whole disembarking process uncomfortable and more time consuming for everyone -- for no reason!

Here's hoping on our next flight the passengers all wait their turn, resulting in a faster disembarking for everyone!

Until I blog again,

Leslie

P.S. Next blog, I think I'll be switching gears from people to pet manners! Woof, woof!

P.P.S. If anyone wants an idea for a tasty summer salad, combine corn and edamame along with minced red onion, salt and pepper and your favorite vinagrette.