Miss Manners

We're trying to raise Isabelle with manners (Lord, give me strength!). Thankfully, we do often get compliments on her politeness (pat my own back here).

When me and the brothers were raised, we learned very strict and proper table manners. Our mother had been brought up even stricter (down to the appropriate attire one wore to Supper). We didn't have a dress code in our house but we did learn table manners. Some of the top ones, in no specific order:

1. Chew with your mouth closed.
2. No talking with food in your mouth (which seemed redundant based on rule #1).
3. Napkins in laps.
4. No elbows on the table.
5. Never reach for an item, ask for it to be passed...PLEASE!
6. When using a knife, cut one bite at a time. Rest your knife and put your fork back into your dominant hand to take a proper bite. Repeat.
7. How to set a proper table and how to rest your utensils.
8. Asking to be excused (and usually being denied until the family was done).
9. Push your chair in when you leave a table.
10. No singing at the table.

Most nights, we can barely get all 3 of us seated at a table at the same time. But we do really attempt the family dinner concept at least 3-4 nights per week. Ed and Isabelle both had a two-week winter break (while I worked through both holidays, but I digress). So we've had a lot of table time lately. This week, Ed and I broke out the "no singing at the table" rule.

Isabelle asked why?

I had no idea what to tell her, I just told her that was one of the rules that my Mom and Dad taught me. But she didn't buy it, so she said since Ed & I couldn't give her an answer, she would ask God. Right there in the car, she closed her eyes, clasped her hands in prayer, and tilted her head up to the sky to ask God a very serious question -- God, why am I not allowed to sing at the table?

After a few seconds of silence, she very righteously said -- God said he doesn't know WHO made that rule and that we can sing at the table if we want.

So, of course, when Isabelle turns to God, I turn to Google. It seems to be a rule that goes along with any and all mouth noises being frowned upon (burping, slurping, bubbling, singing, squealing, humming, etc.) because it interrupts polite conversation. But if God says we can sing at the table, I trust him more than Miss Manners any day. Sorry, Mom.