A good friend of mine was complaining about her son the other day.
A
good
friend
of
mine
was
complaining
about
her
son
the
other
day
.
"Did you notice," she started, "how he didn't wait for me to get my salad before he dove into his?"
``
Did
you
notice
,
''
she
started
,
``
how
he
did
n't
wait
for
me
to
get
my
salad
before
he
dove
into
his
?
''
True enough, the boy attacked his plate faster than a cat in the wild.
True
enough
,
the
boy
attacked
his
plate
faster
than
a
cat
in
the
wild
.
Without manners, we're no more than animals.
Without
manners
,
we
're
no
more
than
animals
.
Actually, that's not true.
Actually
,
that
's
not
true
.
I've been watching and feeding a group of wild cats, and they show unusual politeness toward each other.
I
've
been
watching
and
feeding
a
group
of
wild
cats
,
and
they
show
unusual
politeness
toward
each
other
.
Even when food is scarce, they take turns, leaving at least a small part for the next in line.
Even
when
food
is
scarce
,
they
take
turns
,
leaving
at
least
a
small
part
for
the
next
in
line
.
My mother educated her three children to have good manners all the time.
My
mother
educated
her
three
children
to
have
good
manners
all
the
time
.
We were made to feel very uncomfortable as if we were sitting on pins and needles until we got used to saying please, thank you, pardon me, and I'm sorry.
We
were
made
to
feel
very
uncomfortable
as
if
we
were
sitting
on
pins
and
needles
until
we
got
used
to
saying
please
,
thank
you
,
pardon
me
,
and
I
'm
sorry
.
And I have to say, while it was a painful learning experience, it was one of the most valuable.
And
I
have
to
say
,
while
it
was
a
painful
learning
experience
,
it
was
one
of
the
most
valuable
.
I can't tell you how often I sat with my friends, eating at their dinner tables, and their parents thought highly of my good manners.
I
ca
n't
tell
you
how
often
I
sat
with
my
friends
,
eating
at
their
dinner
tables
,
and
their
parents
thought
highly
of
my
good
manners
.
While it was a little embarrassing, I knew even then that my mother's teachings were paying off.
While
it
was
a
little
embarrassing
,
I
knew
even
then
that
my
mother
's
teachings
were
paying
off
.
Many years later, when I was attending seminars across the country, my manners were quite useful.
Many
years
later
,
when
I
was
attending
seminars
across
the
country
,
my
manners
were
quite
useful
.
While I regret that I haven't been a perfect example, I'm still working on it.
While
I
regret
that
I
have
n't
been
a
perfect
example
,
I
'm
still
working
on
it
.
I suppose, in this regard, my mother lives on through me.
I
suppose
,
in
this
regard
,
my
mother
lives
on
through
me
.
I didn't have her beautiful singing voice or her green eyes, but she did make sure I received one of her finest characteristics.
I
did
n't
have
her
beautiful
singing
voice
or
her
green
eyes
,
but
she
did
make
sure
I
received
one
of
her
finest
characteristics
.
A good friend of mine was complaining about her son the other day. "Did you notice," she started, "how he didn't wait for me to get my salad before he dove into his?"  True enough, the boy attacked his plate faster than a cat in the wild. Without manners, we're no more than animals. Actually, that's not true. I've been watching and feeding a group of wild cats, and they show unusual politeness toward each other. Even when food is scarce, they take turns, leaving at least a small part for the next in line.  My mother educated her three children to have good manners all the time. We were made to feel very uncomfortable as if we were sitting on pins and needles until we got used to saying please, thank you, pardon me, and I'm sorry. And I have to say, while it was a painful learning experience, it was one of the most valuable.  I can't tell you how often I sat with my friends, eating at their dinner tables, and their parents thought highly of my good manners. While it was a little embarrassing, I knew even then that my mother's teachings were paying off.  Many years later, when I was attending seminars across the country, my manners were quite useful.  While I regret that I haven't been a perfect example, I'm still working on it. I suppose, in this regard, my mother lives on through me. I didn't have her beautiful singing voice or her green eyes, but she did make sure I received one of her finest characteristics.