Teaching Manners

Lately names have become important to John. He is learning that people have names. Yesterday when we went to buy the van, John kept asking me the name of the seller: "But what is his name, Mama?" Now he asks me about strangers in public, what the name of that person on the street is.

So today I was at Babies R Us and a clerk helped us with something. Then we went to our van and were driving out when John saw that same clerk outside the store. He asked me, "What is that man's name?" I answered, "I don't know his name, honey." John said, "I think his name is Gentleman." I asked him to say it again and he did, just as clearly.

That is funny because I make an effort to say "lady" and "gentleman" when speaking of strangers instead of "that guy" as is my bad habit and typical of my generation. If we're in a store, I'll try to say to John, "I'm going to ask that gentleman for help." Apparently my efforts in this little area are rubbing off!