Holiday Manners: Social and Dining Etiquette Class for Children and Teens (ages 9-15), December 15, 2012, Tampa Bay

Does your child remember to shake hands and introduce him/herself when meeting people? Does your child understand what defines appropriate attire for holiday events? Does your child understand how to use the placeware at a formal meal? Does your child understand how to appropriately maneuver the buffet table? Does your child know when is it OK to put elbows on the table? Is your child a good host and guest? Is your child savvy about mobile manners while at holiday events? Does your child remember to send thank you notes for gifts? Provide your child with holiday manners skills that will benefit them though the holidays and beyond. In this highly interactive age appropriate course, your child will learn skills that will help them to be successful and build their self-esteem, character, confidence, and social skills. Your child will cover a multitude of areas:   Why Manners Are Important * Introductions, Greetings, Proper Handshakes * Etiquette When Visiting Family * Gift Giving and Receiving * Respectful Conversations * Appropriate Holiday Attire * Being a Polite Host and Guest * Polite Party Behavior &Tech Manners * Holiday Dining Etiquette * Importance of Thank You Notes
Saturday, December 15, 2012, 9ap-1p, Palm Harbor, $119, lunch included, REGISTRATION For more information, contact: info@civilitycentre.com or call (813) 579-7087.

Swearing, Profanity, #$%&#?*! ... Call it What You Will

As many who've been in my seminars know, I find that swear words are simply letters of the alphabet put together to create a word. I am not aware of any country that doesn't have its share of such words. This said however, I am not a fan of swearing. Not because of the words themselves, rather, because of the implied intent behind the use of these words, and often the tone with which they are spoken. Any letters can be put together to form a word. It is the meaning that society gives to these words that creates acceptance or nonacceptance for use in polite conversation.

Today we learned that the City Council in Washington, D.C. added an amendment to the Council's Code of Conduct that bans the use of profanity in council meetings. This amendment also unanimously passed. (see for the story: D.C. Council Chairman Cracks Down On #@&#%!!!)

It is interesting too when I speak with others, not one person has said that swearing is appropriate. Some even say they need to clean up their language. Yet swearing persists.

I simply ask you to consider how refined a person (you or other) sounds when swearing. And is there another set of words other than profanity that can be used when stating displeasure, unhappiness, or used in general conversation? 

Mind Your Manners

Thank you to Bill Ward of the Minneapolis Star Tribune for keeping the importance of manners in the forefront in today's article, "Mind Your Manners." In it he highlights segments from the book, How To Behave: A Guide to Modern Manners, by Caroline Tiger. The book is on my to read list.

The update I make to a suggestion in the article is that when the person in line ahead of you tries to get 22 items through the 10 item only lane, to begin counting off the item number would be equally as rude. Rather, a statement such as "You must not have realized that this is the line for 10 or fewer items" if the cashier has not yet realized this; it is the cashier who is responsible for monitoring the flow of the lane and directing this person to the appropriate lane.

I also suggest avoiding name calling (even in your mind) such as "bozo" or other terms. Sometimes, people really are clueless. Give them the benefit of the doubt, just as you would want for yourself.