Let's talk about manners!

With summer finally here, temperatures start to heat up, and we begin wearing shorts and flip-flops again. Additionally, disposable cups, plates, and other easily disposable paraphernalia become the norm. This single action of paper product usage has single-handedly ended manners as we know it!

It's a great idea to teach children manners at a young age! Saying "please," "thank you," and "excuse me" are important social skills that can help them interact politely with others. Encouraging and modeling good behavior is a great way to teach these skills.

What was your favorite comfort food when you were a child? Mac and Cheese? Sloppy Joe’s? Meatloaf? French Fries? Something else?

For me, it was Polish sausage and sauerkraut. My Busha (a diminutive form of Polish grandmother, but we called her Bushi) was the best cook in the universe. Walking into her house was like walking into heaven. The smell of sauerkraut simmering on the stove permeated the house all the time.

“It is painful to watch Boomers use technology,” my 30-something son told me as I tried to reset the internet. Although I think I am pretty tech-savvy, I grew up with Big, Beige, and Boring technology. What technology did you grow up with? Was it boring or fun?

The first personal computer I remember using in the 1980s was definitely big, beige, and boring. The operating system it used was MS-DOS which used the language called BASIC (Beginners' All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code). It was a huge advancement for me since I was programming in FORTRAN on a mainframe that accepted keypunch cards. Did I say I was old?

In today’s age of societal turmoil, manners are more important than ever. Good manners, courtesy, and etiquette are the building blocks of a healthy society. If you want to “Change the World,” begin with style and grace, not hate and disdain. Don’t be a Karen.

How about encouraging a budding entomologist?

When I was a little girl, my dad and I would take walks around the block. After a rain, one day, I saw some worms on the sidewalk, and I screamed. I was afraid of these squirmy things keeping me from walking on the sidewalk. My father looked at me, took my hand, and ushered me to the grass next to the sidewalk. He said, "Wait here."

Did you help your parents with a vegetable garden when you were young?

My dad loved to garden and would plant tomatoes every year. When I was little, he asked me if I would help him.

We started at the local hardware store and bought a packet of tomato seeds, which cost 15 cents. Dad showed me how to take some potting soil (he always kept some in his garden shed) and fill the egg holders of a used egg carton mother gave us instead of throwing it out.

You have to use the stairs!

We all love our grandkids. They are a source of joy, pride, and love. So why am I writing about elevators? Because we have to rally to help motivate our grandkids. We know what it was like, early in their childhood; trying something new was easy. Since we live in a microwave society, it can be challenging for us to know how to help them stay motivated and engaged for the long ride.