Where are your Manners!?!

I am sure we can all recall a time when our parents sternly asked us these famous words, "Where are you manners?" For some of us it probably started at a young age and may still be question posed by your parent. Well, now dealing with my own child, I think they were asking this more hypothetically to save face for others around them. Like when Grace starts throwing her food at a restaurant - ok, I know she is only 1 and doesn't even know what manners means, but I do find myself nervously asking these sorts of questions to her in the presence of a watchful eye. I want to be clear I do not expect my one year old to have manners that is something she will learn in time from the adults in her life, namely her dad and me. I came across an interesting article in the Sun Times today titled "When the younger crowd dines". The article included some suggestions from Peggy Post (Emily Post is her great grandmother in-law) in her book The Gift of Good Manners: A Parent’s Guide to Raising Respectful, Kind, Considerate Children. These all seem pretty common sense to me but I too have been in a restaurant where a wild child takes over. My pre-Grace days I always thought - control your child! Now I more apt to think that kid is having an off day or wow, I feel bad for those parents. So, here are her suggestions - great in an ideal world even with your child that is perfect 99% of the time...it is always that one time in a crowd of 50 strangers that they go crazy :)

1. When you make a reservation, ask if the restaurant has a kiddie menu, high chair or booster seat. If not, take the hint and book elsewhere.

2. Be realistic about your expectations. Children cannot sit still as long as an adult can. You might be fine over the course of a two-hour dinner, but your child probably won’t be. Forget about lingering over dessert and coffee, too.

3. Pick a non-peak time to frequent the restaurant.

4. If you insist on taking your infant to Tru because you’re little darling is asleep in her/his car seat, be prepared to leave the minute the child wakes and starts fussing.

5. Have snacks and toys at the ready to keep your child occupied.

6. Be ready to order right away. Better yet, phone in your order ahead of time so you’re food is ready when you arrive.

7. Deal with problems as quickly as possible.

8. Save the running for the playground — unless it is a fast-food restaurant with a playground.

9. Be thoughtful of your waitstaff and don’t leave a huge mess. Use napkins for big spills and ask politely for another if needed. Tip well and say “thank you.”

10. If you bring a stroller into the restaurant, fold it up and get it out of the way of traffic. Otherwise, see if you can check it.