Polite.

We talk a lot about manners around here, as you might imagine. Lots of, “Make sure you say please and thank you!” reminders when the kid(s) are going somewhere. Lots of “Did you thank your brother for doing XY for you?” the rest of the time.

It’s been working nicely – the boys are generally polite to people, including to each other. Of course, a bit of frustration creeping in can totally nuke that “to each other” part, but that’s sort of expected.

I often hear from other parents that the boys were very polite and “great guests” and that makes me really, really happy.

(I am a bit of a stickler for manners. I admit it.)

And so it makes me giddy that Maymo will walk through an automatic door and shout, “THANK YOU DOOR!” every single time.

It cracks me up even more on the occasions when he forgets, or is distracted, when we walk through that door – - so he turns around, walks back to the doorway and clearly says, “I forgot! Thank you door!”

Y’know, just in case the door’s feelings were hurt by the slight.