Being from the South we were taught manners from the moment we came into this world. Things like yes m'am, no sir, please, thank you and how to sit at the kitchen table and consume a meal in a pleasing way were part of our everyday life. I drove my parents and my brother crazy because I was like the table manners police; 'mom he's smacking his food', 'mom stuff is falling out of his mouth', he is talking with food in his mouth' etc. and on and on.
Due to my daddy's business we traveled and lived all over the world. We dined with dignitaries, were invited to dinner parties and mom did her fair share of entertaining so good manners were EXPECTED of my brother and me.
My girls were also taught how to sit at a table and eat a meal, how to cut the meat on their plates, the yes m'am no sir was difficult to maintain because it is not the norm here in Kansas.
