Yes, Ma'am

There is something wrong with our society. I noticed it some time ago, but it's really coming to my attention more and more now that I am considering the things that are most important (in my eyes) to pass on to my daughter. It's not the (negative) impact we're having on the environment, or the corruption in our governments, or the *ahem* issues with our systems of education. All of these issues are important, and need to be addressed, by people much smarter than me, but my child-rearing isn't much influenced by them, beyond simple common sense.

The real issue that has been bothering me is the deterioration of common courtesy I've observed among humankind. It's out of the norm these days for a young man to hold open a door for an elderly lady, or for a gentleman to offer his arm to a lady and safely escort her home, etc. Because of this lack of respect people hold for one another, we've had to all but do away with the idea of "innocent until proven guilty," because the majority of our race is only out for #1: themselves. It's really sad when it makes a war veteran's day when I ask to shake his hand so that I can thank him for his service to our country, or when it lights up a little old lady's face when my husband holds a door open for her, or when an employer is surprised and gratified when an employee goes above and beyond the call of duty. It's sad because acts like these have become so few and far between, and the people who think nothing of it are growing increasingly rare.

What happened to the morals, and respect for your fellow man, that my parents ingrained in me? What happened to chivalry? Ladies and gentlemen behaving as such? Kids who call their friends' parents Mr. and Mrs.? Why do we have to "grow up" and enter the "real world" before we start putting others before ourselves?

I fully intend to teach my daughter (and any more children I have) everything that I was taught about courtesy and respect and putting others first. Will she/they be even more out of the ordinary among her/their peers? Will she be teased for being nice, like I was from time to time? Or will things perhaps turn around by the time she's old enough to be active in social situations?

My hope is that, in her lifetime, we'll experience a turnaround. Maybe parents will wise up, and realize that a little discipline, though tough at the time, is worth it in the end. And leading by example is by far the best way to teach. I learned so much from simply watching my parents, and I hope to do the same with my children. I hope that this selfishness I've noticed in our society can be cured, and I intend to do my part to make sure that happens. 'Cause my mama raised me right. ;-)