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"Please" and "Thank You" are two simple pleasantries that most children learn to say soon after their first "Mama" or "Dadda". If children are unfamiliar with the concept of common courtesy, it usually has more to do with parenting than with age. The most important thing we can teach our children is respect. If a child does not have enough respect to express gratitude at age eight they will likely have the same problem at age eighty. It is up to parents to teach children the basics of courtesy, respect and manners.

I am always baffled when children lack a basic sense of respect. There are so many examples of this all around us. The next time you go out in public, look around and observe the behavior of children and parents. You will likely be disgusted at what you see. Children who are unable to control themselves in public have the same problem as those children who are unable to muster up a simple "Thank you". When I am shopping at a department store I often notice children grabbing clothing off of hangers and running around aimlessly screaming and knocking over shoppers as they go. Many of us may simply giggle a bit and figure children will be children. This way of thinking is precisely the problem. Parents who allow their children to run wild in public are likely afflicted with a serious respect deficiency of their own. When parents have no respect for others they certainly see no need to teach their children to have respect for people or property. Parents these days seem to think that every where they go should be their children's own personal play ground.

If parents do not start taking parenting a bit more seriously, we are all in for a world of trouble. Children these days are spoiled and lazy and their parents are to blame. Children today spend their days learning how to lead selfish and unproductive lives. All that kids these days have to do with themselves is wake up, daydream, and play with their new iphones. Children no longer learn the ways of the world from their parents, they learn it from the Internet while their parents busy themselves with lattes, big screens, and mortgages that they have just now realized they can't afford. Children have no sense of decency, respect or values because we no longer teach these things to them. It is time for is all to take a breath and realize what we have done. We have created a generation of little selfish monsters and it is time to clean up our mess.

Learn more about this author, Patricia Borrone.
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