Susan Huston, who teaches etiquette to everyone from the Texas Rangers rookies to young corporate types, says parents have long accepted manners education as being ‘important for girls.’ The prevailing attitude for boys is: ‘”He’s too young; when he’s older, I’ll teach him.”
“But,” warns Huston, “if you wait, it may be too late.”
Adds Huston, “I target 11 to 14 year olds because about that age, they become a little more concerned about their appearance and their manners.” She explains, “That’s when they start going to school dances.”
So mom and dad, keep that in mind when Connor suddenly comes marching home to shower and shine his shoes.
Barbara Griffith
Fort Worth Child
March 2005