Tidbits

All children are born geniuses, 9.999 out of 10,000 are swiftly, inadvertently degeniusized by grownups.

Richard Buckminster Fuller

As a parent, helping your child grow up learning manners is probably your most important job after helping your child grow up safely and in good health.

Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece

 Manners Begin at Breakfast

“The tendency to conformity exists more and more in the one place which should most definitely be our own – our own home. The house should be the product of your personality. The furniture should suit your way of life, the pictures be pictures you love, the colors be the ones you enjoy.”

Eleanor Roosevelt

  You Learn by Living

Be A Gracious Guest

1.Never arrive early. Arrive 5 to 10 minutes after start time. 

2.Bring a pair of socks or slippers in case your host wants shoes off and does not offer guest slippers.

3.Bring a gift for your host, just a small show of appreciation, with a note attached.

 4.Start eating when your host or hostess starts eating, unless told to start without them.

5.There is no obligation for you to clean up after the party. Offering is kind; however, the offer will probably be rebuffed.

6.Do watch for verbal and nonverbal clues, when it is time to go.

7.Reciprocate the invitation sooner than later.

“Meaning to send a thank-you note but then not doing it is exactly the same as never thinking to send one – that person is still receiving zero thank you notes.”
 Kelly Williams Brown

Be A Gracious Host

1.Ask guest prior to event if they have any allergies and take them seriously.

2.Plan your guest list with people you think will get along together.

3. When guest start arriving, be prepared to greet them and available to introduce them to each other.

4. As you are introducing guest to each other mention commonalities between they might have, to get the conversations going.

5. If you want people to take their shoes off in your home, provide inexpensive guest slippers. It can feel uncomfortable to have bare feet in a friend or colleagues’ home. It is also embarrassing to take your shoes off in front of others and have sock issues. Have a small basket for used slippers to be tossed in as guest are leaving.

6.Provide nice, folded paper towels or clean wash cloths rolled or folded in a basket for guest to dry their hands on in the powder room. This keeps them from having to use the same hand towel your children and every guest in the house is using. Provide a small basket as a receptacle for dirty wash cloths. I always take one cloth and throw it in the dirty bin to guide people.

7.Be clear when it is time for guests to go home. When invite is extended add a start and end time. Use nonverbal-rise, and verbal -thank everyone for coming and let them know how much you enjoyed their company. Then Offer to walk everyone to the 

6 Easy Ways to be Charming

1.Smile and make eye contact.

2.Use good manners, please, thank you, your welcome, pardon me. 3.Stand to greet people. Stand tall and greet people warmly.

4.Listen intently, without trying to think of what to say next. Focus on the other person, make them feel valued and interesting.

5.Look for people who may feel out of place or anxious, greet them and introduce them to people.

6. Remember names and details of those you meet.

Good Manners and Etiquette Are For Everyone, Every Moment, Everyday

The Power of Influence

A must read by Ty Bennett.

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The 5 applications of influence are:

1. Develop outward thinking

2.Invest in people

3.Focus on being interested not interesting

4.Practice the platinum rule

5.Seek to serve

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What if today is the day....  and dress accordingly.

"How many of us, I wonder, dare to look like ourselves "

Eleanor Roosevelt