25 Manners Kids Should Know

And adults for that matter! I'm not sure where I found this list, but felt the need to post it to remind me the niceties that I should be practicing and teaching my children:

#1: When asking for something, say "Please."
#2: When receiving something, say "Thank you."
 #3: Do not interrupt grown-ups who are speaking with each other unless there is an emergency. They will notice you and respond when they are finished talking.
#4: If you do need to get somebody's attention right away, the phrase "excuse me" is the most polite way for you to enter the conversation.
#5: When you have any doubt about doing something, ask permission first. It can save you from many hours of grief later.
#6: The world is not interested in what you dislike. Keep negative opinions to yourself, or between you and your friends, and out of earshot of adults.
 #7: Do not comment on other people's physical characteristics unless, of course, it's to compliment them, which is always welcome.
#8: When people ask you how you are, tell them and then ask them how they are.
#9: When you have spent time at your friend's house, remember to thank his or her parents for having you over and for the good time you had.
#10: Knock on closed doors -- and wait to see if there's a response -- before entering.
#11: When you make a phone call, introduce yourself first and then ask if you can speak with the person you are calling.
#12: Be appreciative and say "thank you" for any gift you receive. In the age of e-mail, a handwritten thank-you note can have a powerful effect.
#13: Never use foul language in front of adults. Grown-ups already know all those words, and they find them boring and unpleasant.
#14: Don't call people mean names.
 #15: Do not make fun of anyone for any reason. Teasing shows others you are weak, and ganging up on someone else is cruel.
#16: Even if a play or an assembly is boring, sit through it quietly and pretend that you are interested. The performers and presenters are doing their best.
#17: If you bump into somebody, immediately say "Excuse me."
#18: Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, and don't pick your nose in public.
#19: As you walk through a door, look to see if you can hold it open for someone else.
#20: If you come across a parent, a teacher, or a neighbor working on something, ask if you can help. If they say "yes," do so -- you may learn something new.
#21: When an adult asks you for a favor, do it without grumbling and with a smile.
#22: When someone helps you, say "thank you." That person will likely want to help you again. This is especially true with teachers!
#23: Use eating utensils properly. If you are unsure how to do so, ask your parents to teach you or watch what adults do.
 #24: Keep a napkin on your lap; use it to wipe your mouth when necessary.
#25: Don't reach for things at the table; ask to have them passed.

Strangers in the Night

We lived in the Best Western for 11 days before we closed on our house. We were scheduled to close at 2, but checkout of the hotel was noon. Hindsight being 20/20, we should have booked the room for another day. As it was, I dropped of our luggage in the shed of the new house so we could hurry and move into our new house. That night, when I pulled our things into the house, I didn't realize I had some stowaways. Mike and I unrolled our sleeping bags, turned off the lights, and settled down to Netflix on our iPhones. Laying on my stomach, I saw a shadow between me and the pillow and upon turning on the light, discovered a spider the size of a quarter. Mike destroyed it and after my heart stopped racing, I lay back down. Not 20 seconds later, a shadow scurried up between my arms! As soon as that spiders little life had ended, I drove the 30 minutes to Walmart to buy spider spray and traps. In my trap setting and spraying, I discovered several more "little friends" who had hitch-hiked their way in. Thankfully, our furniture arrived the next day and we no longer have to sleep on the floor. I must have scared away the rest of the spiders with my massacre, because we've only seen one more in the house since!