Thank you, Maralee McKee for writing this book! Manners That Matter for Moms is a wonderful tool that ever mother should own. Maralee McKee not only shares the "how to" of manners, she also explains the "why." To me, the importance of manners must be taught to our children so that they understand the heart and purpose behind why certain behavior and etiquette is expected in social situations.
In the beginning chapters of the book, Mrs. McKee said two things that really stood out to me. The first idea is that we think that we spend so much of our lives training our children, but in reality, if you take the time from infancy to the time they leave for college at age 18, you have only spent 21% of your life with your children. You have just 21% of your life to invest into your children on a daily basis while they are in your home. That was a sobering thought to me. We must use our time with them wisely. Secondly, she says that today, children are our shadow, but tomorrow, they will be our reflection. This statement resounded in my heart. As mothers, we must be diligent with our little "shadows" because in the future, they wll reflect what we have taught them.
While I loved seeing Mrs. McKee' heart in the pages of this book, I also loved it because it is so practical! Yes, there is a LOT of information contained in the book, but she also gives ways that you can teach your children without overwhelming them. The book covers manners that kids need to know, such as:
Proper Greetings
Proper Introductions
Please and Thank You's
Party Manners
Manners When Visiting or Having Others Visit You
Table and Serving Manners
Thank You Notes/Emails
Conversational Skills
This book will be on hand in my home for many years to come. I found as I was reading it so that I could teach my children, I ended up learning a few things myself! I highly recommend this book to every mom, no matter what age her children.
I was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for my review.
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