"notbob" wrote in message
...
On 2006-05-27, Leila wrote:

[snip]

candlelight). Here's to the finer domestic niceties.


Have they shown any interest in joining the Navy or the YMCA?


No, jes kidding. Really, I think it's great. Maybe they saw it on tv
and it struck a chord. Whatever the cause, nurture and encourage it.
Better yet, reinforce it by taking them out to a classy restaurant.
Well behaved kids in a restaurant are a joy.

Especially when people compliment you on how well-behaved they are! After
all the stuff I've read here about parents letting their kids run amok in
public, I've been making a habit of noticing well-behaved children and
complimenting their parents and the kids.

God knows complaining to the parents of the rowdies doesn't change anything
and only frustrates me...so why not spread a little happiness instead?

Lisa Ann

In article .com,
"Leila" wrote:

Navy or YMCA - I typed several answers to that but canceled them
all. I'm leaving that one alone!

fine restaurant - we'll go to Chez Panisse cafe upstairs first.
It's much more casual. And we'll go at lunchtime. But not this year...

how they got the interest in table setting - must have been from
all those dinners at my mom's house -she takes them one day a week
after school, feeds them and brings them home after dinner. Frequently
my parents will have other guests as well and then they're all in the
formal dining room, so the kids get plenty of practice at proper meal
protocols. They've clearly been paying attention to the details at her
house. I've just been slapping plates on the kitchen table with little
ceremony.

This is why it really takes a village to raise a child - my life has
been too hectic and stressed out for such things, but the grandparents
stepped in. It didn't occur to me to say - hey, since I'm going to be
in treatment for cancer for a year and then go to grad school, my table
service will be haphazard to non-existent, so would you please make
sure the children learn some decorum?

But it worked out that way anyway. Thank God.

Leila

I'm finding it incumbent on the grands to impart some of the niceties
that have, for whatever reason, gotten lost or lowered in importance in
the grand scheme of parenting. It's fun when the twerps are interested.
Chemo & radiation both? And then grad school. You nuts? "Go big or
stay home." Guess you're not inclined to stay home, huh, Leila. God
bless you, Woman! I salute you.

--
-Barb
http://jamlady.eboard.com Updated 5/22/2006, Church Review completed
"If it's not worth doing to excess, it's not worth doing at all."