Fish in My Hair

Letters to TC

Often, in the midst of the 4,682 junk emails I get daily, I find a note from a desperate parent, seeking my sage advice on a familial crisis. Okay, it's not really often. Actually, it's only been once. And it was just a couple of days ago. Here is the actual email, followed by my response:

TC-

I don't want to go all "Dear Abby" on you, but I am guessing that you can help.  I noticed that on your blog you are endorsing "Children's Good Manners Month".  We have been trying to get our offspring to have just one manner, the thought of several of these manners is quite overwhelming.  We do fine with the other eleven months, when we are free to have bad manners.

Underdog

Dear Underdog,

You are not the first parent with this problem. Believe it or not, I have even seen a bad manner or two in my own home. It happens in the best of families.

It has been my observation that when children are having a difficult time following a certain standard of behavior, it is most often because that standard of behavior has not been well-modeled to them by one of the parents. And by one of the parents, I mean, of course, the father.

I would bet my entire bathroom cupboard filled with Mary Kay products that, very shortly after the whole forbidden fruit debacle, Adam started making farts with his armpit at the dinner table. Eve scowled at him while their sons fell off their chairs in hysterical laughter, and the whole human race has been on a rapid downhill course ever since.

So, my recommendation is that you let your wife do the manners training. And in the event that your children grow up and leave home with all the social graces of a billy goat, your wife can always fall back on the line my mother-in-law uses: "We didn't raise him that way! ... He's only been like that since he married you."

Best wishes,

TC

Untitled Comment

7:59 AM, Sep. 29, 2006 .. Posted by Isaiah5513

Having three sons and a husband, I can relate :/ How about the husband who falls off his chair in laughter when one of the children does something rude? Praise the Lord I have the best m-i-l in the world, maybe I'll go live with her. I will remember that cover-up line for the future, though.

Untitled Comment

11:59 AM, Sep. 29, 2006 .. Posted by drewsfamilytx

Oh man. You hit the nail on the head with this one! hehehee...

That's why I love visiting your blog.

Love,
Marsha

Untitled Comment

11:33 PM, Oct. 1, 2006 .. Posted by AFJen88

When is your book coming out? I'm serious! My goodness, you make me laugh....

dear TC

10:16 AM, Oct. 9, 2006 .. Posted by javamamma

Ya know, you could start a "Dear TC" column on the homepage of HSB. I have a few I would send ya and anxiously await your expert answers.