When I go out with my boys (ages 8 & 9) I ask them to be little gentlemen and open & hold the door for women (yes even their little sister). I think they just like to be reminded I regard them as gentlemen.

Kids need role models. If parents are absent or aren't exhibiting good social skills themselves, how can they expect their children to learn them?

In our family, dinner time is sacred. We dine together with no electronics allowed: no TV, phones or interruptions. Conversation is a learned art!

In the past several years I have noticed that many (not all, but more than it should be) have put manners and respect to the back burner. As parents and society, respect and manners are so important to teach our children so that they grow to have respect for themselves as well as anyone they cross paths with. I have 2 sons under the age of 3 and they already know when to say Please, Thank You, I'm sorry, and when guests leave our home they always walk them to the door and give them hugs to tell them goodbye. After my first son was born, I wrote And Published a children's book all about apologizing. The title is "I'm Sorry," Said Denny. It was just release in December and I hope that I can do my part to help children remember respect and manners. My hope for the future is to put out additional books about other mannerisms to complete a series for children.

I loved the article. My parents taught us good table manners and how to treat others with kindness and respect by example. However, when we got into the public school system most of our friends and class mates did not demonstrate the same social graces. It was not "cool" to be so polite, kind, and respectful. We were considered odd or strange. We were raised in the church and attended regularly, therefore most of our close friends were also taught the same social behaviors and manners. Knowing how and when you should apologize is so important, but my experience has been that more parents prefer to make excuses for their children rather than to teach them to take responsibility for their bad behavior. What I am saying is that those outside influences are so strong and tend to breakdown our efforts in setting good examples and teaching our children how to interact successfully with society at large.

Our children and young adults need to learn how to deal with liers. How to deal successfully with bullies. How to deal with unfair situations. How to recognize manipulation and deceit. To understand that being accepted and popular are not as important as being true to yourself and others. How to hold their heads up high knowing that their parents taught them the right way to treat others and to maintain those standards.

I would love to see a Public Television Program dedicated to teaching our parents how to parent and our children how to survive in a less than friendly society.