Just looking for opinions really, on manners!
I have a ds, nearly 3, who has been taught basically since we felt he was able to understand what was expected of him, to always say 'please' and 'thank you' when requesting or receiving anything. I expect him to say it always (albeit with a little prompting still....!), no matter to whom he is talking. We also encourage him to say hello and good bye to people on any occasion when we would do the same (ie arriving at school, at the checkout, to nice ladies on buses etc.). I certainly don't punish him if he doesn't, but I believe that all of this contributes towards being a pleasant, thoughtful adult.
However, one of my closest friends has 3 kids, aged 2.5, 3.5 and 4.5 (busy girl!) all of whom NEVER say please, thank you, hello or goodbye. She does not seem to expect them to, and it really gets my goat! They are sweet kids, but come across as being very rude - other friends have commented on it. They also interrupt constantly when I talk to their mum, and will just endlessly say 'mummy' or my name until I respond. I tend not to answer them, but she never tells them not to interrupt or that it's polite to wait until people have stopped talking.
I never know if it is my place to say to them that they must not interrupt (I know I wouldn't mind someone asking DS to say thank you or to tell him not to interrupt), or hope that she will eventually tell them not to. I don't want to upset her or her kids, but equally, I find it very rude.
Am I being very petty?
Whew!! What do all the mumsnetters think?