Episode 526 - First Phone
Your Awesome Etiquette podcast episode for the week. Plus your weekly etiquette challenge, the Monday joke, and an etiquette extra on public parenting
On today’s show, we take your questions on texting with a young nephew who just got a phone, handling rude behavior during the holidays, and trying to get your packages when you’ve moved. For Community Members, our question of the week is about neighbors who are unplugging the hallway deodorizer. Plus, your weekly challenge, etiquette salute, and a feedback postscript segment.
Etiquette Extra - Public Parenting Polish
What do you do if your toddler steals a child’s toy on a playdate? Has a tantrum at the supermarket? Gets pushed by a kid at the park?
These are common behaviors for toddlers and preschoolers who are still learning how to act around others and regulate their emotions. But for many parents, these moments are a struggle to manage — especially when they happen outside the routine and comfort of home.
So begins The Tricky Etiquette of Parenting in Public, a new piece by Emily Siner for WHRO Public Media that is lighting up all the etiquette news message boards. The piece goes on to provide advice for five very real-world situations that parents might find themselves in when out with little ones in public. The advice that made great sense to us comes down to the benefit of emotional self-regulation in the face of potential embarrassment to prevent things from getting worse or to find the best possible solution if one exists (not easy to do). Staying aware of and striking a balance between the needs of the child, parent, and the affected public provides a clear example of how social expectations inform in-the-moment decisions even when they are not being followed exactly and won’t determine how all the players will behave. You might even say that it is an extreme example of an effective practice for managing childish behavior.
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Weekly Podcast Etiquette Challenge
This week’s challenge is to self-assess your communication skills with the person you are closest to. Whether this is a partner, a family member, a friend, or even someone at work, reflect on your communication and ask yourself if there are any tune-ups you can do. For example, do you always reply with a thumbs up? Try typing out your answer. Do you notice that you don’t ask your friend how they are, but they always include it in their initial text? Try to emulate them. It’s easy to let our communication skills relax with those nearest and dearest to us - see if a tune-up would benefit your closest communications.
As always, thank you for spending part of your day with us. We hope the week ahead presents an opportunity to share consideration, respect, and honesty with those in your life. We know relationships built on this foundation are well-supported and primed to flourish, and we appreciate you keeping that part of your weekly routine.
See you on Thursday.
All the best,
Lizzie and Dan
Happy Monday Joke
“If a child refuses to nap,”
"are they guilty of resisting a rest?"