The Big Man has come up with a new family tradition.
When we were on vacation and eating in a restaurant with grandparents every night, I saw how bad the Big Girl’s manners could be. (Mine, too, for that matter.)
“Put your napkin in your lap.”
“Don’t hunch over your food.”
“Hold your spoon properly.”
“You can’t eat that with your fingers!”
Etc.
When we got home, I told the Big Man, “We all need to practice better table manners at home.”
“You think so?”
He didn’t say anything more, so I didn’t think he was paying any attention, but last night he announced, “Tonight, we’re going to eat in the dining room.”
Instead of sitting at our grubby kitchen table, we pulled out the placemats, set the table, rolled the high chair into the dining room, and I even lit a candle. The fact that the Little Girl kept throwing her spaghetti on the floor diminished the elegance somewhat, but it was nice to eat properly.
We’ve dubbed it “Polite Night” and decided to make it a weekly tradition. (Really, every night should be “Polite Night,” but we decided to be realistic.)
