TABLE MANNERS! Do/Did you enforce it with your children?

This is one of my pet peeves. Lack of table manners, everywhere you go. I have no children, but if I did, teaching proper table manners would definitely be in order. A few years ago, my husband and I were invited to Christmas dinner with one of my husband's sisters and her family. Her son-in-law was seated next to me, and he sat down at the table before I arrived. Apparently not knowing what to do with his napkin, he placed it on chair. So, not wanting to embarrass him, I picked it up and said, "Oh, this must be yours, allow me." And I placed it on his knee. (without touching him, I might add) A few days later, I received a letter from my hostess's daughter, accusing me of accosting her husband. She was sitting next to him, and was well aware that I had done no such thing. I couldn't believe it. But, even though my sister-in-law goes to a great deal of trouble to set an elegant she does not even know what to do with her napkin. Her table manners are atrocious. She never places her napkin in her lap, she picks at the food with her fingers, and even sneezes on the table without attempting to cover her mouth. So, when someone her age (mid 60's) has no concept of table manners, how can you really expect the off-spring to be any better?

OH did you hit one of my nerves! We made sure that our four children were raised, as we were, with good table manners. However, my teen children often have guests to our home and I end up quite nauseated and unable to eat. They join us at the dinnertable and I start twitching when I watch them eat. The twitch soon gives way to full-blown seizures!! Ha, Just kidding. But it is really a sad thing to watch them. If I serve steak or pork chops or anything that requires use of a fork and knive, they seem to be unable to navigate that task! They STAB the meat with their fork, pick it up and bite off it!!!! Napkin? What napkin? It remains on the table while they wipe thier hands down their thighs. Not only do they smack when they chew, they expose their half-chewed food for all to see as they TALK WITH THEIR MOUTHS FULL!!! Yup, I have them over frequently, it is so much cheaper than going to Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig!!

yes when my doughter was young, and not only table manners but all good manners! And now I'm happy to see that the work made many years ago have had good results!

I am appalled at the table manners of many young people. Parents are lax in teaching manners to their children. There was a time that manners were also taught in school, but the schools no longer promote this. Sad.

That must have been disgusting for you to watch the couple in the restaurant - I would have been embarassed too. As children my siblings and I were all taught strict table manners, and I have automatically passed it on to my children. I could take them out to fancy restaurants because I was confident that they would know to behave - and they never let me down. I hope my children pass on the same manners to their kids, because there is nothing worse than bad table manners.

I had to sit straight, no elbows on the table, eat with your mouth closed, cut little pieces of food up whilst holding the knife and fork correctly, (so that I didn't put too much food into my mouth) no singing or talking, and I always had to ask before I got down from the table, I followed the same rules with my kids when they were young, the only thing I changed was the talking, I love to talk to people when having a nice home cook meal, (as long as I don't spit my food out at them of course!)

May people have forgotten how inportant manners are.I have taught my own kids manners and my grandkids too now I have a daughter-in-law That has terrible table manners. She and her son who is about 13 both chew with their mouth open and smack their food. He has hair long like girls. He is often mistake n for a girl.Any where they both have their hair hanging in their plates.

I certainly did. I was raised to have perfect table manners and I would not allow any less from my child.

I am so like my mom in that aspect. I have always taught my kids to mind their manners at the table. I won't let them use their fingers to pick up their food unless, of course, it's something like fried chicken or french fries or something like that. Using napkins is a must! And that smacking thing.....UGH! I hate that sound. So, obviously, I am constantly on them to chew with their mouths shut. If I chewed with my mouth open, my mom would clock me upside the head too! LOL

modile phones at the table is one thing I find really annoying