Andrea Michaels's Blog - Posts Tagged "respect"
A Remarkable Weekend
I had a remarkable weekend. Originally I was supposed to spend Friday night with my grandson Ethan and Saturday night with my other grandson Cameron, but poor Ethan was sick, so I had Cameron all weekend. And what a joyous experience it was. First Friday night with dinner at CPK and then to see "The Pirate Fairy" at the El Capitan. They were setting up Hollywood Blvd. for the Oscars so, knowing some people there, we snuck in and Cam had his moment on the red carpet.
The next day we were off in the rain to Santa Monica and Cam's first "Cirque du Soleil" show, "Totem." Well, I feel like I've seen about 100 Cirque shows, but never through the eyes of a child. Amazing to view it that way. "Awesome" was the word he used to describe it. Then to dinner on the pier and walking along Santa Monica Place, ending up at Barnes and Noble reading books for hours.
Every moment of it, this nine year old child was a gentleman. Opening doors for me, carrying the umbrella, and when I lost my car and had a panic attack he remained calm and reassuring until he calmed me down. Every time he spoke to a service person he was amazingly polite as he was with me..."please" and "thank you" every single time it was appropriate, even if I handed him a tissue or held his popcorn box. It was remarkable how many people commented on what an extremely well brought up young man he was (and is) as if that display of good manners was unexpected or unusual.
Now I credit his parents for raising their children right and I'm glad people notice, but I am even more glad that these children do not do this for reward, but because it's now a natural part of their behavior.
We all forget sometimes how much good manners mean in how we're perceived. So I had a good lesson this last weekend, and just wanted to share it with all of you.
The next day we were off in the rain to Santa Monica and Cam's first "Cirque du Soleil" show, "Totem." Well, I feel like I've seen about 100 Cirque shows, but never through the eyes of a child. Amazing to view it that way. "Awesome" was the word he used to describe it. Then to dinner on the pier and walking along Santa Monica Place, ending up at Barnes and Noble reading books for hours.
Every moment of it, this nine year old child was a gentleman. Opening doors for me, carrying the umbrella, and when I lost my car and had a panic attack he remained calm and reassuring until he calmed me down. Every time he spoke to a service person he was amazingly polite as he was with me..."please" and "thank you" every single time it was appropriate, even if I handed him a tissue or held his popcorn box. It was remarkable how many people commented on what an extremely well brought up young man he was (and is) as if that display of good manners was unexpected or unusual.
Now I credit his parents for raising their children right and I'm glad people notice, but I am even more glad that these children do not do this for reward, but because it's now a natural part of their behavior.
We all forget sometimes how much good manners mean in how we're perceived. So I had a good lesson this last weekend, and just wanted to share it with all of you.
