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ceph_gw

The table... Better, but still a far cry from good.

ceph
15 years ago

One part sigh of defeat / One part brag.

My SS, A__, had just turned 8 when I first had a meal with him, and his table manners were atrocious.

If he happened to pick up his fork during a meal, he held it like a weapon.

He didn't know how to use a knife.

He crammed more food than would fit into his mouth and then let it fall onto his plate until he "only" had a huge mouthful that took a good two minutes to chew.

He'd get up from his chair and run around. (He has ADHD, so this part is more understandable, but still not acceptable)

He talked with his mouth full, and chewed with it open.

He would spit food on the table or his plate because he "felt like it"

It was awful.

So I told then-BF-now-DH that A__ needed some table manners. He agreed, but said "I don't have him that much, so what can I do?"

Well, I have always thought that is a big pile of BS, and we set about providing him with manners.

Now, at nearly 10, A__'s manners are much generally improved!

He still isn't good with a knife, but he uses cutlery when he should.

He sits in his chair.

He chews appropriately sized mouthfuls with his mouth closed and waits until he is done (or nearly done) to speak.

I am very pleased with his progress! Good for A__!

Tonight he even remembered that you should tilt your soup bowl away from you, not towards... ... ... And then he followed it up by... ... ... wiping his hands on his shirt!

Such a victory, promptly followed by bitter defeat.

I just needed to get that off my chest, and knew some of you ladies would understand.

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