So I've been realizing lately, that my baby is growing up...WAY.TOO.FAST.!! But I also just love the stage she is in right now. She's walking, starting to say words, and learning new stuff almost every day
I just want to keep her at this sweet (mostly innocent ) stage forever!! After being on cmf for a year and a half, I've been amazed at the Moms (and kids!) on here. I want to know how you taught/teach your kids to be respectful kids! If there is one thing I canNOT stand is that "you can't tell ME what to do" attitude from kids to their parents!

Honestly it starts from the time they say their very first "no" to you, and maybe even before. It is just consistently teaching them to obey and treat you in a respectful way from the time they are very small. Determine, with you husband, what type of behaviour you will expect from your kids and then guide them into that way. Anything you see that is outside of acceptable behaviour need to be disciplined in whatever way you have chosen. The biggest thing is pray a LOT, and be consistent. Do those and you will see results. :)

Great advice from Jen! I would also add, it's the little things.

*Teach her that she is not to interrupt. If you are talking to another adult and she wants to talk to you, she is to come up and maybe hold your skirt/pants. You can then put your hand on her shoulder or head indicating that you know she is there, but it's not time for her to talk yet. At a pause in the conversation, you can then say, "Now what did you want to say?" (Of course, this is barring emergencies.)

*Teach her that she is NEVER to say "I don't love you" or "I hate you" to anyone, especially to you. She may "feel" mad or unloving, but she is not to let these feelings allow her to hurt people.

*When you speak to your child, she is always to acknowledge you.

*Really, really work on not raising your voice. She is to obey your words, not to hold off obeying until your volume increases.

*She is not to set the tone of the home with grumpy, crabby behaviour. This will help her in the long run not to hang onto grievances and make sure everyone "feels" it.

*Don't let her dominate the conversation at the dinner table. She is to learn to take her turn as well as everyone else.

*Don't let her be the constant center of attention at a gathering. Yes, everyone wants to "ooh" and "ah" over a baby/toddler. But after that, indicate that she is to occupy herself.

*Which brings me to another point. Teach her to occupy herself so you don't have to be constantly entertaining her. She needs to learn to have respect for the time of others as well.

Don't mean to drone...just a few little tidbits. Love you!

Great list, Madre. Not sure I could have come up with all of those, but we actually do all of them.

I wanted to add, what she sees from you and your dh will go a long way in addition to what you tell her.

I recently was talking to Shaelyn about being grumpy/crabby. I make it a point to tell my kids when I'm crabby so they know it happens to everyone. But we CHOOSE how to react when we're feeling out of sorts. We don't let our feeling dictate our actions. I told her that I have to pray to ask Jesus to help me when I don't feel like talking nicely.

Good for you for starting young!

All great suggestions. For us it was a progression. When they started asking for things using words we would remind them to say please and thank you. If they bumped someone, "excuse me" As they get older you add more and more. Situations are great learning experiences for kids. Hands on learning. That's the way we did it. It really surprised me too when A was 2 and her Sunday school teacher commented that she was the most polite child in her class. But taking advantage of everyday life situations are great.

Thanks so much ladies!! I love all the wonderful advice:) LOVE that list Madre!!

And teach her to greet other people i.e. to speak when spoken to. A child may be shy, but she can still say "Hello ____."

I completely agree that "please" and "thank you" and "excuse me" are among the very first things. :) Courtesy is basically respect.

And teach her to greet other people i.e. to speak when spoken to. A child may be shy, but she can still say "Hello ____."

I completely agree that "please" and "thank you" and "excuse me" are among the very first things. :) Courtesy is basically respect.

Yes. I have shy children and I made so many excuses for them when they were younger and it is a royal pain to get them to be polite now when spoken too. Better to start when they are young.

I tell my kids to look the person in the eye and respond somehow...a wave, a smile or speaking...when spoken to. Now, they are getting better with actually saying an audible, "hello". ;)