Manners have fallen by the wayside. Children rarely remember to say please and thank you anymore and adults aren’t any better at making polite gestures than kids. My parents stuck with their guns when it came to good manners. I have taught my daughters good manners and have no leniency in how they treat others.
Here are 21 polite gestures that never fail to impress:
- Holding doors
- Written thank-yous
- Using yes ma’am, no ma’am, yes sir, no sir
- When walking or reaching in front of someone say, “Excuse me.”
- Waiting until everyone at the dinner table has their food before starting to eat
- Letting the women at the table order before the men
- Men opening any door for a woman and/or children
- RSVPing by the requested date
- Introducing friends to friends, by name
- Waiting to get up from the table until everyone is finished or excusing yourself if a bathroom break is in order
- Putting away the cell phone when approaching a checkout counter
- Chewing with your mouth closed
- Keeping one hand in your lap when eating
- Letting your guest choose what to watch on the TV
- Serving your guests first
- Waiting for people to exit an elevator before entering
- Letting people complete their sentence before interrupting and if interrupting, saying excuse me
- Helping the elderly load or unload their groceries into or out of their car
- Sending cards of condolences, congratulations, well wishes
- Waiting until someone you have dropped of enters their house and is safely inside
- Remember birthdays by calling or sending a card
