mind your manners

A couple years ago, at dinner, with the swirling crazies of our rambunctious brood overflowing the dining room, Chad captured everyone's attention by telling them, in a silly-perfect-daddy way, how awful their manners were. There were full mouths telling stories and elbows knocking over milk; raucous laughter, little ones doing laps around the table. There was reaching and grabbing and nose-turning-up-ing. And, Daddy emphasized all these no-nos with his over exaggerated reenactment of our meal.

Then, he told the kids about learning proper table manners at the home of his friend, Peter, whose perfectly well-mannered mother had hosted several teenagers in her own efforts to civilize the world. Our own family manners dinner tradition was born, and we chose Valentine's Day to be our special day.

This year, our schedules wouldn't allow for a fancy meal on Thursday, so our manners dinner was tonight. As I got dinner ready, the boys set the table using Grandma Great's special silver. The girls raided the dress up box to make everyone look "fancy." Dinner was served and everyone was very eager to be properly mannered. So cute!

We quickly reviewed table manners (which we do all the time, anyway, but something about being dressed up, made it more fun), but the manner Chad wanted to particularly pay attention to this year was "making polite dinner conversation."

I was amazed at all the lovely and detailed things my children had to say about their school day! Usually I am given answers like, "fine," "it was great," "nothing much," and "I liked recess" when I ask about how their day has been. But tonight I heard all the details about learning the drums in music class, the ins and outs of choosing partners in specials, and was even taught a new dance, courtesy of Kate (who asked politely if she might be allowed to perform) who showed us the circle dance they are learned at school today.

After dinner, everyone let loose just enough to join Kate in the circle dance, right there in the dining room, with our fancy outfits and our full tummies and this mommy's heart full of gratitude for the amazing little people I call "mine."

Happy Valentine's Day!