Ready For Take-Off: Plane etiquette {Mind Your Manners Thursday}

I don't know why, but this morning I had a flash back to last summer when I flew down to meet Andrew in Houston.  I was 7 months pregnant with Jack and knew I was not going to travel well.  I sat down by this nice man who seemed like the kind of guy who would keep to himself, so I thought.  We did the typical (polite) small talk and when he found out I was pregnant, he started giving me his entire opinion on pregnancy, birth, and parenting.  Again, he was very nice, he just talked way to much!  Some people would probably like this to distract them from the flight, me, I go straight to sleep because I get terribly motion sick...especially prego.  His talking caused my nausea to accelerate and as soon as we landed I knew I would be heading straight to the bathroom.  However, the plane had to taxi in several circles and right as the light came on for us to unbuckle our seat belts, I had to use the doggy bag.  The second flight didn't get much better.

So, in honor of my terrible memory, I have a few things to keep in mind next time you travel...

Bare-Foot Mamma's Top 10 Rules For Air Travel:

1)  Keep the talking to a minimum, unless your seat partner seems really interested, but remember, they may just be trying to be nice.

2)  If you do talk, be quiet!

3)  We all know traveling with kids is hard (I haven't had to do it yet, but I am dreading it already) so be kind to the parents if they are trying to do their best to keep their kids in line.

4)  Parents, an airport is not a vacation for you, make sure your children aren't annoying anyone.  I once had a child in squeeker shoes dump crackers in my lap in a terminal because their parents decided they didn't need to watch their darling little girl.

5)  Keep your knees and feet out of the back of the seat in front of you.

6)  Reclining your seat an inch isn't that helpful anyway, so think about how your seat back is in the face of the person behind you.

7)  Never bring you pets on the plane!!!  I have a terrible cat allergy and I my eyes were starting to itch and water and I couldn't figure out why...the lady next to me had a cat.  I didn't know they could even do that!  They take peanuts off the plane, but allow cats?

8)  Be nice to the flight attendants.  They are doing their best and they have most likely dealt with several rude people before they get to you, so give them a break.

9)  Say Thank You as you leave the plane.

10)Do NOT, and I repeat, do NOT bring any kind of smelly or crunchy food on the plane.  It affects everyone.


These may seem negative, and I apologize, but I am trying to save you from other people talking bad about you when you leave the plane and the airport.

A Simple Thank You. {Mind Your Manners Thursday}

I believe our society has turned it's back on manners.  That is one reason I love living in the south and raising my son in the south.  I know plenty of people in other regions of the USA that have a fantastic appreciation for good manners, so that was not a slam on them, but traditionally the southern states are more strict with their teaching and enforcing of good manners.  This Thursday topic will visit a few different areas of etiquette to serve as a reminder for us to be intentional with our words and actions.  There will also be some on things that seem old fashioned to some or irrelevant to others (how to shake some one's hand, table manners, how to set a table) but you don't have to read those days :).  I hope you'll join me for a walk down etiquette road.

I thought today we would start out with the most basic and most important gesture in our society.  A simple "Thank you".  It takes very little effort and it produces such a positive feeling between you and the person with whom you are speaking.  This beautiful phrase can be learned and applied by the youngest members of society to the oldest.  It is not a phrase that is geared to give someone the power or to insult.  It can be used very inappropriately and sarcastically, but in its purest form, "Thank you" is the gift that keeps on giving.

I was talking with some girls from my bunco group, the other night, about how terrible we are at taking a compliment.  When a guest tells you, "Your home looks beautiful" or a friend says, "I love your haircut", what do you usually say?  Is it something like, "Oh, it's not as nice as I would like it", or "I didn't really have time to fix it today"?  This is because we are so afraid of sounding arrogant or like we expect for them to compliment us.  Why is it so hard to say "Thank you"?  We are called to be gracious people and part of that is being thankful when someone tells us they approve of us.  I believe our society tells us that we are not special.  The media is constantly surrounding us (I'm speaking for women) with females who appear perfect.  Perfect figure, perfect house, perfect cook, perfect skin, perfect children, perfect wardrobe, perfect...perfect...perfect!  News flash:  we're never going to be perfect.  So why don't we celebrate our small achievements.  If we make a delicious meal, say "Thank you!".  If we pick out an outfit that is flattering and matches our shoes, say "Thank you!"

A friend of mine had this as her status on facebook;

A real woman always keeps her house clean and organized, the laundry basket is always empty. She's always well dressed, hair done. She never swears, behaves gracefully in all situations and all circumstances. She has more than enough patience to take care of her family, always has a smile on her lips, and a kind word for everyone. Post this as your status if you, too, suspect that you might be a man. :)

At first I was very depressed.  My dream is to be June Cleaver, with a thriving photography career.  But when I read the last line, it brought a smile to my face.

Another reason I feel it is so important for we, the adults to remember our "Thank you"s, is because of all of the little tykes who are watching your every move.  I had a girl tell me once that her 3 year old didn't know what it meant to say "Thank you", so she didn't enforce it.  I completely disagree.  I tell Jack to say "Thank you" when some one gives him a compliment.  Can he say that?  No.  Does he know what it means?  No.  Will he develop a habit over time?  Yes.  Will he eventually understand why he is saying it?  I sure hope so.  One of the most frustrating things I dealt with during my student teaching was teenagers not saying "Thank you".  I drilled that lesson home every day.

I could go on and on, so I will stop here.  As you go though out your day, let's just try and remember to say "Thank you" if someone holds the door open, gives you a compliment, to the checker at the grocery store, even waving in your rear view mirror to the person who lets you into the busy line of traffic.

Thank you for reading :)

P.S.

I'll have another post completely devoted to the art of a Thank You note.  Something I wish I was better at.