Raising a toddler reminds me everyday that courtesies and manners needs to be taught.

I wanted my son to be polite so when he was learning to talk I also tried to teach him some manners.  When I would give him something I would tell him ‘thank you’ so that when he received something he would say it.

Of course that meant he would say ‘thank you’ when he wanted something.

He is very polite and uses ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ all the time now.  OK, sometimes he has to be reminded.

When I was all prego and riding the bus to work, one day an elderly woman got up to offer me a seat.  Yep, an elder woman, even though there was all these young men around but they were too absorbed in what they were doing with their electronics to notice me waddling on to the bus.  I of course, didn’t take her seat.

I have also had a door close on me because the person walking into the door in front of me didn’t notice I was right behind them.  That one really irks me.

I bring this up because sometimes I wonder if parents are teaching manners anymore or if we are becoming so self-absorbed that we are just loosing them.

Tonight, however, I had a wonderful experience of courtesy by not one but two strangers.  So I had to share it.

I picked up the boys from my sisters after work.

Me: Ian do you need to go pee before we leave

Ian: nope

4 miles from my sister’s house, but too far from home yet.

Ian: I need to go pee-pee

ok, there was an Arco station on my side of the street and a Chevron station on the opposite  side.  I decided to go to the Chevron because I thought it would be cleaner, even if I had to wait to cross traffic.  Remember, I have a toddler who has only been potty trained for about four months now, so time is of the essence.

We pulled into the gas station, which was busy, and parked.  I had to get Ian and Baby Sid out of the car.  When I walked up to the store an employee ran up to hold the door open for me since I was carrying the baby’s car seat and holding Ian’s hand.

Oh and this restroom was a unisex one so it had a toilet and a floor urinal.  So of course he wanted to pee in the urinal!  Exciting stuff for a three-year old boy.

When we left the store another employee was washing my windows.  He told me “I thought Batman needed to see out clean windows to fight crime.” Now I wasn’t getting gas, so this is not something that they do to parked cars.

All the employees were really nice and pleasant  so it made the quick stop a nice one for me.  It is reassuring to know that there are still courteous  people out there.

And just for fun here the conversation between Ian and I when leaving the store.

Ian: I want some candy.  How bout dis one? hmmm…maybe dis one?  oh, dis one looks good.

Me: nope, no candy.  I didn’t bring my purse in so I don’t have any money to buy candy.  Maybe, next time.

Ian: oh, ok.

Ian (in the car): I got some money.  I got money, for me got candy next time.

Me: alright, next time we go to the store I will let you buy some candy

Ian (while at a stop light in front of a Walgreens): dat da store wit candy?  I buy candy der?

Me: nope, that store only sells medicine.

Ian: oh, medicine for Baby Sid?

Me: well medicine for anyone

Ian: oh, I need some medicine.  I need medicine to go down, down in my belly.

Me: why?

Ian: I have a cold. I don’t feel good (he is not sick, by the way)

Oh, this kid just kills me!  I am not sure how we went from him wanting candy to him wanting medicine.