Ask Mable: Acting Up

Frustrated Jane D. asks,

““Dear Mable,

My mother, who is from Europe, is very aware of my son’s manners or lack of. Her visits are filled with teaching moments for him. My husband and I are frustrated because he doesn’t seem to listen to us as he does my mother. We are feeling the effects of coronavirus in a more personal way because we don’t get to see my mother and we also get to watch our son acting in a way we would rather he didn’t. Any thoughts or ideas?””

Dear Frustrated Jane D:

Social distancing doesn’t have to be the end of manners lessons for your son. There are some apps available these days that you can utilize to interact with your mother, WhatsApp, FaceTime, Zoom to name a few. I am using some of these platforms myself to continue teaching etiquette and I find my classes engaging. You wouldn’t want your mother and son’s relationship to suffer because of the Coronavirus.

I hear this often that some children seem to respond in a more positive way when taught manners by someone else other than their parents.

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