My husband and I have made sure that Evie started to learn manners, and greetings at a young age. We wanted her to learn that saying please and thank you are very important. While there are some days she needs a small prompt or reminder, more often than not she says these at the right time all on her own.
What we really love is seeing how much joy fills her little heart when she says “hi” or “good morning” to someone and they acknowledge her, and reply back. The smile on her face is huge, you can’t miss it. Sadly, it far too often that she gets ignored by other people of all ages. Children and adults alike. Doesn’t matter where we are, a coffee shop, getting groceries, or out for a walk, she often has her greetings rejected.
This makes me so upset for her. You honestly can’t miss her when she says hi, if you do not respond to her she will say it again and louder when she says it again. For whatever reason these people don’t one little second out of their day to respond back. All she is looking for is a hi or good morning in return.
It’s fine. Just ignore her. She’s just a little kid.
Yes, she is a little kid, but not just a little kid. She is part of the future. Part of a young generation we are helping shape into incredible people. She is at an age where she is already observing everyone around her and how they act. My husband and I are doing our best to be good examples, but we get discouraged when we know our efforts may be destroyed by others actions. We are all part of shaping who she is, what she is like as a person.
While some may say it’s a small and trivial thing, I don’t see it that way. Yes some adults may not have kids, and yes some children may not have siblings so they may not understand how saying “hi” and paying attention to a little kid can have an impact. Everyone should be capable of manners. We live in a very self absorbed world. What a difference there may be if everyone took a moment and stopped being so self centered and even just acknowledged others around them with a simple greeting.
Please next time you pass a little kid and they smile, say hi, or waves at you acknowledge them. Smile back. Yes you may have to use a few more facial muscles than usual but it will be worth it. You just might make that kids day!
Children are not a distraction from more important work.
They are the most important work.– C.S. Lewis
The sad truth is that as your daughter gets older then people will be doing the same thing. I find that when I have all my kids out, people will be more interested in my youngest daughter (who is 2 years old) and completely ignore the older 3 (4,6,9 yrs old). Every once in awhile people will take the time and acknowledge all of them, but those moments can be few and far between.