Tag Archives: etiquette

Graduation—Part Six—Thank You’s and Appreciation

We have talked about paperwork, we have talked about party planning, we have talked about all sorts of realities and details that come up when one of your children is graduating. In the end, after the ceremonies and the parties, we still have to get out all those “thank you” cards and make sure we let everyone know how much we appreciate their participation… While I do think that graduating student needs to take a big role in the sending and sharing of the “thank you’s,” I am also not naïve enough to think that it will all get done … Continue reading →

Graduation—Part Four—Managing the Invitations and Announcements

In the old days, I like to think that it was a much simpler process to announce a high school graduation. In fact, I think things were pretty homogenized when I graduated and I simply had to order the announcements through the school—everyone’s looked alike and then I can’t remember if I addressed them and mailed them out or my mom did (I’m pretty sure it was me.) Regardless, it seemed a fairly easy and painless process. With my daughters, however, the invitations/announcements have been a bit of a bigger deal. First, my daughters decided they wanted to do a … Continue reading →

Southern Belle Schooling in Tennessee

Many years ago children were thought to need to learn more than academics at school. Boys were taught survival skills and girls were taught to be ladies. While more than academics are taught at schools now, much of the etiquette has been lost. Teachers are now teaching street survival skills about sex, drugs, and more. However, Columbia, Tennessee is one of the few places where a girl can still learn to be a proper lady. For one week during the summer, girls ages 14 through 18 can attend a Southern Belle school for girls. The school takes the girls back … Continue reading →

Going to the Dog Show: Etiquette

Have you ever been to a dog show? Would you like to? Here are some tips for how you should behave in order to be asked to sit and stay. Don’t just pet the dogs — ask first! This is a good idea anywhere, really. But remember that the owners and handlers have spent a lot of time getting their dogs ready for performance. Don’t just walk up and mess up their hair. Ask first. Don’t let your children run up to strange dogs, either — again, this is good advice outside the dog show, too. Always ask before your … Continue reading →

The Coffee Shop – An Office Away From Home

I am sitting at the coffee shop as I write this frantically typing away on my laptop. I’ve quite literally “set up shop” here again like I do every Thursday. It is my office away from home. If you are a big fan of the classic television show, “Cheers” you’ll fondly remember how everyone shouted, “Norm!” when he walked into the bar. That’s how I feel at my favorite coffee joint. “Hi Traci…are you having the usual today?” I am still trying to come up with a few witty responses like Norm always did. Here’s one of my favorite Norm’isms… … Continue reading →

How to Turn Down a Handshake Gracefully

So, perhaps you have decided to avoid shaking hands, at least to try to observe shomer negiah (avoiding casual touch with the opposite gender). What if someone of the opposite gender offers you his or her hand? What do you say? This is one of the most challenging aspects of becoming observant and is often something people put off until they have already begun observing other mitzvos. However, men who wear yarmulkes might want to start observing shomer negiah right away to avoid giving the false impression that it is okay to shake hands with women. I can say that … Continue reading →

Why Don’t Orthodox Men Shake Hands with Women?

I apologize for the title of this blog, since it is kind of one-sided; Orthodox women also do not shake hands with men. However, I felt the gender inclusive title of “Why don’t Orthodox Jews shake Hands with Members of the Opposite Gender (respectively)” was a bit too long, and I find that more often women complain about not having their hands shaken by men than vice versa (it was only in the last few decades, according to a social historian, that women have begun to initiate handshakes.) A friend’s husband who was becoming religious told me that this was … Continue reading →

This Little Piggy’s Book of Manners – Kathryn Madeline Allen

It’s hard to explain to children why manners are important. Although, I have to admit, some adults don’t really get it either. This cute picture book by Kathryn Madeline Allen, illustrated by Nancy Wolff (really, I didn’t make that up) tells the importance of having good manners in a way children can understand and accept. We begin: “This little piggy said please and thank you. This little piggy did not.” We see the dialogue between the animals and their reactions to the piggies and their differences in manner. “This little piggy chewed with his mouth closed.” The other animals are … Continue reading →

Teaching Your Toddler to Mind Their Ps & Qs – Seriously!

Yes, teaching manners to a toddler may sound about as easy as herding cats and to be honest, you wouldn’t be wrong in thinking that. Teaching etiquette to your children has to start at some point and toddlerhood is as good a time as any to begin teaching them. There are a number of ways you can begin teaching manners to your toddler and none of them require absolute perfection on the part of your toddler – because your chances of winning the lottery are higher than having a perfectly mannered toddler. So where do we get started? You start … Continue reading →

Miss Julia Throws a Wedding — Ann B. Ross

Miss Julia is not known for holding her tongue. In fact, far from it. If she has an opinion, you will know what it is, and when Hazel Marie announces that she is leaving Miss Julia’s house to go live in sin with J.D. Pickens, that venerable widow has plenty to say indeed. It’s bad enough that Mr. Pickens is hesitant to get married, but even worse that Hazel Marie thinks that’s okay! And what of Little Lloyd – isn’t that poor child ever going to have a properly legal father? But then Miss Julia gets some marvelous news. Her … Continue reading →