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Social Graces
Mallika, a teenager I know, went up to Vikas, another teenager she had met once before, and said hello. Instead of responding in kind, he looked at her blankly and said 'Er… who are you?' She re-introduced herself, spoke for a minute and walked on, but not without feeling slightly insulted. Teach your son that if someone he does not recognize comes up and says hi, instead of cheekily declaring 'who are you?' he should smile back in acknowledgement, and try and figure out who the person is during the conversation. Or he could politely state, "You look so familiar, but I just cannot seem to place you." The same rule, of course, does not apply to teenage girls, who are often approached by random boys. In any case, being polite has never hurt anyone. Your friends drop in for a cup of tea when your children are lounging around watching MTV. Make sure they stand up and greet the guests. A causal wave or nod of acknowledgement is not enough, unless, of course, the guest is practically a family member.Even so, practice makes perfect, and the more often your child gets up to greet guests, the more naturally and easier it will come to him. If you are out for dinner at a restaurant, and are waiting for guests to join you, your children, along with the father, should stand up as the guests approach your table. The lady may remain seated. Teach your
children basic table
manners.
If guests come over and your children are in their
room, it is always nice if they can come out and say hi. If they are not
suitably attired and are loath to change their clothes, you could excuse
them, but if it is a family member who would be pleased to meet the kids,
they should definitely come out and greet them. If guests stop by when you are not at home, your teenager should invite them in, offer them something to drink and sit with them until they leave. (Only if your teenager knows who they are. It is understandable if your teenager doesn't invite strangers when he or she is alone at home. It is important for them to use their discretion here. Younger children should never answer the door.) Teach your children to offer to carry
anything heavy and weighty, and to help you carry stuff to and fro. This
does not mean that you sound them off for not offering to carry that light-as-a-feather
plastic bag. They are not coolies. There is nothing more annoying than
mothers goading their children on to 'help' a relative carry something
no heavier than an envelope, just so she can feel proud to have such thoughtful
children. But if you or any elder is carrying an assortment of packages,
or something weighty or uncomfortable, your child should rush forward to
help.
Teach your son to:
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Social graces bring 
