Those are the same things I tried to instill in my own two daughters. Though my girls balked at “manners” lessons; I see how they act with others and how they are raising my grandchildren, and I know these were important things for them to learn to be able to pass on to their kids.

Fast forward to my mid-fifties and I find such a serious need for those social skills that I always took for granted. So much of what we do each day, no matter where we are, involves interacting with other people. How we do that kindly, caringly, and respectfully has to be taught and modeled. Many of the character values and traits we want to see in our children and grandchildren can be taught through simple social skills. No longer just about eating without grossing others out, social skills are the basis for positive interaction with everyone and in every situation. They are essential to securing our kids’ successful futures.