I wanted to focus on 1 thing this summer, table manners. I know I really dropped the ball in this area when M and E where small. I won't make excuses...it is bad! M eats his food like it is going to run off his plate if he doesn't inhale it in 5 minutes and E can't sit still in her chair if her life depended on it. The floor around them is filthy and half the time their food is everywhere but their plate. M doesn't think forks and spoons are necessary and E never uses her napkin. This is a reflection on me and my parenting, so I had to do something about it. I am not the best example, this I know!
There are 10 weeks in this summer vacation, so the Tollefson Family Summer Challenge is to take 1 table manner and focus on it all week in the hopes that by the end of the summer we will have wonderful table etiquette. I also set in place 2 main rules for each meal; 1. We all remain at the table until everyone has completed their meal 2. We all pitch in with the clean up. These 2 rules have been wonderful so far. The conversations at the table have been so fabulous and C is really enjoying his chore of taking care of his plate after each meal.
Here is a list of our 10 Basic Table Manners:
1. Use a napkin-keep a napkin on your lap, use it to wipe your mouth
2. Eat slowly-wait a few seconds between bites
3. Keep your mouth shut-swallow before talking
4. Eat with a fork-not your hands, do not use your won fork to serve food to yourself
5. Sit up straight
6. Elbows off the table, wrist and forearms are ok
7. Keep fingers our of your mouth, and nose, no licking fingers or picking teeth
8. Be considerate, don't reach, ask, wait for others to be served
9. Save noises for later
10. Say thank you to whom ever is serving
*As a side note from last weeks manner #1 sitting with a napkin in your lap, keeps E in her chair. Success already!
