Little Gentlemen....in the making

We have been working hard with the boys, this past month, on their etiquette and being "gentlemen". They have the excuse me, thank you, and pleases down to an art. But the etiquette part we are still working on.....for instance.......placing the napkin in their laps when we are at dinner, no elbows on the table, opening and holding the doors for people, and so on. Jarrett does very well with his manners/etiquette...except the holding doors, still working on that one. Blake is doing pretty well too....he makes sure to correct anyone at the dinner table if the elbows are on the table!!
With all that said....let's get real here people!! Boys will be boys....but, we are trying to instill something they can use now and ALOT more later. I guess from my point of view, being a wife/mother....I am hopefully molding my boys to be good respectful husbands for the daughter-in-laws I am ALREADY praying for =).
So yesterday....Blake and I went to the dreaded money pit Wal-mart to get some groceries.....Blake had to make a pit stop at the bathroom before we began to shop. Blake opened the door to the bathroom for me and held it open as I walked threw, as a sweet older lady watched. I could tell she was impressed. She began saying..."What a perfect gentleman you are!" Blake's face just lit up! He said..."Yep, I am a gentleman....I'm four!" (holding up his four fingers..just to make sure she understood =). Let me tell ya....I was a proud Momma.
We left the bathroom and I was just thinking.....What a good little boy I have, so well mannered....we passed a little boy along the way that wasn't being so nice. Blake said...."Oh...he is going to be in BIG trouble!!" I said...yes, he is going to be in BIG trouble. Thinking to myself....My little angel wouldn't act that way....as I looked at him and smiled =). Then.........we turned the corner and entered the Toy Dept. I unexpectedly had the cloud ripped out from under me that I was floating on....and Momma was brought back to reality =). Ok, I will spare you the details......but, it went downhill slightly from there...ha..ha.
Like I said......Boys will be Boys.....and we are still in the construction process of our little Gentlemen.

This prayer/poem is in Jarrett's Baby Book. I thought I would include it with this post. I have always loved it.....

The Parent's Prayer

Dear God,

Thank you for my little one,

I know we will have lots of fun.

Help me to be firm and wise

and see things through my child's eyes

Give me courage and patience too

so I'll know the right things to do.

Please show me what I need to know

so I can help my child grow.

Thank you for this life you've shared

trusting me to take great care.

Help me please to always see

the blessing you have given to me.

-author

Christine Michaels