saying thank you

courtesy, elum

As soon as my children could say Mama or Dada they learned the importance of saying thank you. For months I trained my toddlers the power of the two small words. Anytime they wanted something I would hand them their requested item while saying "thank you" and having them repeat after me. As they grew older they knew to say please and thank you on their own. Often they would need gentle reminders. I still tell my 9 year old to thank his hosts every time he goes over to a friend's house. My 5 year old still needs frequent reminders and my 12 year old has the art of the thank you mastered.

My grandmother, La Jolie Grandmere, respected everyone equally, and the grocery bagger would be treated with the same respect as the Queen. She understood and valued the importance of this. And it rubbed off on me at a young age.  I want my children to understand that there are all kinds of people in life and that they should all be treated well. I think we have this pretty well covered as well. My children know to thank anybody who helps them throughout their day.

It dawned on me, the other day, as a woman complimented something I was wearing, that I am horrible with compliments -- not giving them, but accepting them.

I love to compliment people. Especially now that I have my hand in retail. We, women, are a very insecure bunch. Whether short or tall, petite or large, there is not a woman who is not hung-up about something... her breasts are too small, her middle is too large, her thighs are too "thundery." I love to let a woman know that she is beautiful. I love to see her walk out of the store with her new purchase and a little bit of a skip to her walk and a smile on face that was not there when she walked in through the front door. Tell someone they look lovely and their whole demeanor changes. Compliments are wonderful, powerful things.

And I am terrible at accepting them! I always have been and I am not too sure why. But if I'm complimented on a pair of shoes or the way an article of clothing looks on me I'll shrug my shoulders and say something stupid like "oh, this old sweater?" or "I got these shoes at Marshall's..." Why do I do this? I don't know. I suppose on some level the compliment must make me uncomfortable... so from here on in, if someone compliments me I will simply say "Thank you!" -- and then maybe add the bit about the Cole Haan flats being on a fabulous sale at Marshalls!

Do compliments make you uncomfortable? Or is it only me!