How old are we ?

Jessica - posted on 02/17/2010

I agree also. People could use there manners. My 2 year old has more manners than 90% of people my age.I dont see a problem with people talking to my kid but when they try touching her totally different situation. I dont want random people walking up and picking her up or anything like that but a simple response isnt a crime.

Yasheaka - posted on 02/17/2010

I agree. I feel most parents just don't take the time to teach their children. Its almost as if they expect teachers, caregivers, etc. to teach it.

Charlene - posted on 02/16/2010

I have been pretty fortunate to encounter pretty friendly and polite people where I live. I even had one young boy, maybe 14 or 15, lift the front wheels from my stroller off the bus, over a bump of snow, without me even asking!!! I was pleasantly surprised and said thank you multiple times. I still get the odd rude person, more so when I go outside of my neighbourhood, but I just don't let it bother me.



I think if a child says 'hi' to you, the least you could do is smile at them. I always say 'hi' back and wave. I was at WalMart one day and there was this adorable little girl there saying 'hi' to anyone and everyone. She got a lot of 'hi's back but one woman gave her this terrible look I guess, because I overheard her ask her mom why 'that lady did a mean face'. Then the mother said 'It's probably because she's not lucky enough to have happiness in her life.' It probably wasn't the best thing to say within earshot of the woman-she was some huffy about it- but I definitely chuckled.

Bronwyn - posted on 02/16/2010

Good on you teaching your children manners, it will take them a long way. Many opportunities are found by having manners. My son also liked to talk to adults when he was 3-4yrs and found a mixed response from adults. There were people who would go all overboard chatting with him for as long as he wanted, and some who didnt want to respond. Everyone is different and you cant change them. Some people are uncomfortable talking to children because they dont relate well to kids. It has taken my elderly neighbour a long time to communicate politely to my kids (even though she is a strong advocate of children having manners). Adults dont always realise how important they are in being a role model to children.

Ayla - posted on 02/16/2010

I totally agree! It's so hard to bring your kids up with respect when they look around and see how we are all treating each other.

Danielle - posted on 02/16/2010

I agree that a response to a child who says hello would be nice!! Logan likes to say hi to people and some people just ignore him. Now I do try to encourage him not to talk to strangers but he's friendly and saying hi isn't really all that bad anyway.

I encountered some nastiness at the grocery store the other day though- I rounded a corner with the shopping cart and the cart went a little further than I expected and I ALMOST ran into someone and of course I said "oh! I'm so sorry!" (even though I didn't actually hit her with my cart...) and she muttered under her breath "you'd better be!" o.O WHAT???? I just don't know what's wrong with people anymore!!!!

Kiy - posted on 02/16/2010

I sorry, don't agree with the posters saying that people are afraid to respond if a child says hello. I can't imagine a parent having a problem with a stranger who responds with a simple "hello" or "hi" if a child says it first. Manners are manners, no matter the age.

We are also raising our little gal with a full set of manners. She's even learning to hold the door for the elderly when we are out and about. Really, simple manners take so little extra time out of our day - but add so much to someone else's! I keep telling her that there is nothing so wonderful as to hear a person say "please and thank you". Just today, she helped me hold the door for a gentleman and he told us that it completely made his day! She felt so good. Talk about a self-esteem builder.

Let's all keep raising our kids right, no matter the grouchy folks out there. We know we are doing good!

Bridget - posted on 02/16/2010

Amen!!! I was at the mall pushing a baby in a stroller & not only would no one help hold a door open for me but a lady walked right into the baby stroller because she was so busy talking on her cell phone that she didn't notice my son. I grew up with manners & I have taught my children from a very young age to be respectful of others. It's sad that something as simple and delightful as having manners has been forgotten.

Tanya - posted on 02/16/2010

I am respectful to everone so my childrens have learned this from my actions so they too are very respectful of others and have very good manners. When ever one of my children comment on saying hi or something else polite to someone who didn't respond I simply say maybe they didn't hear you and if my child insists they did I usually say I don't know maybe they don't know their P's and Q's (or you can say there manners..lol) I also have a habbit that if someone does something rude I am expecially nice to them and very respectful kill em with kindness is what I like to call it, my older daughter has picked up on this the other day we were at the store and she said I to an older lady who was in one of the motor carts that they provide at some stores and the lady said nothing to my daughter so she let it go then the lady dropped her cain and my daughter ran over and picked it up and said I'll help you and handed it to her and the lady smiled and said thank you and my daughter responded with a "no problem" (I say that all the time...lol) I just smiled I was very proud she didn't let the lady not responding to her hello change the way she handled a situation... You are bringing up your child great and don't change that because of the people around.

Krista - posted on 02/16/2010

No, you're right that it's not bad to acknowledge a child to speaks to you. It's like anything else, though -- a few people overreact to something and it just ruins it for everybody.

Stephanie - posted on 02/16/2010

people are way to scared to act in the right way worried that people are going to think that they are doing something wrong or call them a child molester A simple acknowledgement if you have no bad thoughts in mind is never a bad thing to do .If i'm watching my child i don't worrie about that

Krista - posted on 02/16/2010

I'm sorry, and I hate commenting on grammar and spelling, because I don't want to seem rude, but just a helpful tip: it's "manners" not "manures". "Manure" is another word for "poop".

As far as your problem goes, a lot of grown-ups don't talk to strange children, even if the kid says hi first, because they're probably worried that the mother will freak out over some stranger talking to her kid. I've been in situations where a baby or toddler was making funny faces at me, and I made faces back, because I knew the baby would like it, and got the dirtiest look from the mother, who then scurried away with her kid like I was some sort of molester. So now I do no more than smile at kids, to acknowledge them. So these people might not be trying to be rude -- maybe they just don't want the mother to get the wrong idea.

Rachel - posted on 02/16/2010

I was raised with manures always !! My boys are now raised with manures !! My 1 year old just learned please and he is sooo proud of him self !! It is a wonderful thing to instill upon a child. I commend you for doing so. That is what makes the difference in the world between respectful people and ignorant people. I also go to the store with my one year old and he is also very social, waving at everyone, saying hi to everyone he can! And nothing gets under my skin more then when someone doesn't even acknowledge him. He is such a sweet soul. Who wouldn't want to be a part of that?? I feel the same way girl. Lets just keep doing what were doing and pray for people who have no respect no clue no happiness and no manures. Lets just keep instilling manures and encouraging them to use them, teaching them that people who don't use manures, were probably never tought, so we will have to show them the right way to be and maybe we will instill manures upon them someday.

Stephanie - posted on 02/16/2010

Same with my son,I explain to him that they maybe were never taught to have manners. Never feel ashamed of having a polite child. Alot of times people have been taught manners but are always to into themselves to use them , it's sad but i have never been that way, nor will my kid. Good for you!!!