Maybe it's just me or perhaps my kids' circle of friends. Of late, I have taken a special interest to observe our children's social etiquette in particular, the ability to greet and thank another. Sounds odd but yes, I am talking about "Hello, auntie" or "Thanks for the ride uncle." No, it does not come naturally anymore. I think I must be the most to-be-avoided auntie because I will tell my kids' friends that they have forgotten their hellos, goodbyes and thank you. So many times, I have received my kids' friends at home without being acknowledged and times when I have the opportunity to offer a ride to my son's classmates and not being thanked for the gesture. This did not occur once but repeatedly.
When we were younger, I remembered constantly being drummed into by our parents to greet the elderly regardless. This included addressing all the people older than you at the dinning table before you can start your meals. Did the school teach us to do so? Hmm... I don't remember specifically so though there was certainly moral education on manners. So what happened to our children today? Maybe the parents did not find the time to share the good values from grandparents? Maybe our kids today are less personal because of the exposure to digital media? Perhaps it's not cool to be seen well-mannered?
For my family, greeting another especially your elderly is a show of respect, a value we Asians hold dearly for a long long time. Losing it is missing one big part of our identity..."Hello auntie. Thank you for having me." Doesn't it just warm your heart when you hear that?
