Dear Sweet Girls,
Please, oh please, use your manners. ALWAYS.
If you receive a gift or compliment, say “thank you”.
When someone says “thank you” to you, say “you are welcome”. Don’t say “no worries”, that drives Honey crazy.
Look people in the eye when you speak to them.
Shake someone’s hand when meeting for the first time. Look them in the eye, give a firm hand shake, and say “Hi, I’m ____. Nice to meet you, ________”. Be sure to say their name back. It helps you remember their name and people like to hear their own name.
Say “hello”. You may notice when we go on a walk, I say “hello” to everyone we pass. That’s because I’m from the South :) Be friendly.
“Yes, ma’am” or “Yes, sir” is the correct response to an adult. Not “yah”, “ok”, “alright”, and NEVER “whatever”. Ignore what Papa says I may have said as a teenager.
Speaking of being a teenager, resist the urge to say “I know”, “Sooooo”, and rolling your eyes. I may have done it but that doesn’t mean it’s okay.
Smile…a lot. It will not only make those around you happy but you can’t help but be happy when you smile.
Call adults by Mr. or Mrs. and their last name. Close family friends you can call Ms. and their first name like “Ms. Trisha”, but don’t call adults by their first name.
Write thank you cards. A hand written note to let someone know you appreciate the gift or act of kindness goes a long way in our digital age.
Say “excuse me” if you bump into someone, knock something over, or wish to say something when someone is talking. Never interrupt.
Hold the door open. Not only for our family walking through but for anyone coming in and out. Be sure to say “hello”.
Please use these manners even when Daddy and I aren’t around. Remember, you are representing our family.
I love and adore you,
Mama
Be sure to follow through our small circle to read more letters from mother’s to their children. Check out Laurie Flickinger’s letter next.
What fabulous advice! Manners are so important! One of my pet peeves is when my kid’s friends call me on the phone and say, “who is this?” I think it’s rude! I always try to remind my kids about phone manners too. Beautiful photo! LOVE your wall color and curtains too btw.
Thanks! Yes! Phone manners, I totally forgot about those. Who is this? drives me crazy too :)
Yes, manners are the best! All of their teachers will certainly appreciate it! I love the picture of your girls – just precious!
Thanks! I hope so!
This is a wonderful idea! And certainly so right and full of fabulous advice for our little ones.
Thanks! Let’s hope they listen to it :)
Very sweet!!
I may print and laminate, so my children can study this every night. ;)
I love the light pouring into your big windows.
Thanks! Yes, I need to print it out too :)
The photo of your children at the window is a family treasure. All the planning, props and staging in the world can’t compete with a simple picture of children interacting in their own home. Lovely!
My children are grown and almost-grown, and your emphasis on manners and kindness will pay off in so many ways. When my high school son won the highest award for foreign languages, his teacher said there were other students with the same GPA, but because my son stayed after to clean up the mess from a French Club meeting while she was called away, he really set himself apart. Courtesy and kindness look great on everyone! Thanks for sharing your touching letter.
Thanks! I definitely want to capture their interaction and relationships as they grow up. It sounds like you raised your kids well :) Any tips? ;)
Such sweet images, and these are definitely rules to live by!! :)
Thanks :)
:-)
I set up email accounts for my boys when they were first born and I’ll often write them letters like this. <3
That is a great idea!
I just now read this and it brought tears to my eyes. Love the photo. But actually my pet peeve is when I say thank you to someone they say, “No problem”.
Honey