One of the things that is important for us to consider in life is the value of saying please, thank you, and using other manners. These are things that don’t happen naturally but they are taught us by our parents and others who have an influence in our lives. It isn’t always the easiest lesson to learn and at times, it can even be an uncomfortable lesson. I think that you will agree it was uncomfortable for the three children in the following story. We can’t prove it is true but we can say we wholeheartedly agree.
So… I am the meanest mom ever… Like… Ever.
Took the kids to Dairy Queen after dinner. They ordered their dessert choices and we waited about 5 minutes for them to call out our number.
The young lady (maybe 17) handed each child their ice cream. Not one looked her in the eye. Not one said thank you. Not to her, not to me… So I waited. I counted to 10
in my head as they dug into their ice cream and the young lady just looked at me (probably because she thought I was hearing voices) and I watched as my children strolled out the door.
I followed them outside where I calmly collected their ice creams and my kids watched in horror as I deposited them into the nearby garbage can. All 3 launched into mass hysteria.
I waited. Quiet. Calm. When they realized I had something to say, they quieted down.
I explained that one day, if they were lucky, they would work a job like that young lady. And I would hope that people would see them. Really see them. Look them in the eye and say thank you.
We are too old at 8/7/5 to move through our days without exercising manners and honestly basic human decency.
So today, I am the meanest mom in the world.
