Yes, Sir

The other night I was talking to my girlfriend, D, and we got on the topic of boys. Mine and hers. Her little boy is two weeks older than Morgan Jane. He's s doll, with a capitol "D". Cute blonde hair, killer blue eyes. We have decided he needs to break some hearts before he can even look in Morgan's direction. Ha!

Anyway, it just so happens that she is reading Dr. James Dobson's book, "Bringing Up Boys"- and mentioned how much she loved it. We got on the topic of manners, character- and how we both wanted to make sure our boys grew up to be strong, responsibe gentlemen, not sissy-metro-men. Then it just so happens that my mom gave me the cutest book the other day, "How To Raise A Gentleman" by Kay West. I read it in about an hour- it was so funny and well-written, and the thing that I found so interesting is that other than the chapter called, "When Nature Calls: Bathrooms, Belching, Boogers, Gas, Spitting and Scratching" (nice.), the book covers behavior that should be expected of girls, too.

I liked that she, as a mother of boys, knows that they are not girls, and will behave accordingly- so its our job to understand them, and teach them the proper time and place for being a guy.

"Do not laugh at, nor appear too horrified by, your son's ability to belch "Happy Birthday," but impress upon him the rudeness of doing so in public."

If you have children, I highly recommend this book! It covers everything you can think of: how you should enter a row if you are late, or need to excuse yourself (tushy towards the row in front of you) to the appropriate response at a birthday if your child opens something he a)doesn't like b) already has or c) just opened. Its a million little things that we all just know, and sometimes forget need to be taught. Just the other day O asked another little girl why she wasn't at a birthday party she had attended over the weekend. It wasn't until then that I realized I had never taught her that she shouldn't talk about parties or play dates with children that weren't in attendance. I waited until that evening and talked to her about it- I love that she is so sensitive and realized right off the bat that it could make people upset and feel left out.

One lesson down, 1,000,000 to go!

Here are some of the ways you know you are raising a gentleman:
"He does not gloat over a win, or sulk over a loss.""He does not express anger, disappointment or frustration by throwing, kicking, punching or breaking something."

"He does not take the last helping without offering it to someone else.""He does not yell "MOM" directly into the receiver when the caller asked for his mother, nor does he chomp gum or food while on the phone.""[When a guest at a party] he does not assist in blowing out the candles unless it is requested, and he does not ask for the biggest slice of cake or the piece with the special decor."

So, Operation Proper Gentleman is in affect, and Miss O will be learning right along with him. Thank goodness for 3-year-old independence- he already loves to open the door and hold it! Now, if I could just get him to always remember to flush the potty...