Table Manner Trouble

By Julie

Hello, my name is Julie, and I have a confession. Although I try very hard to use proper manners at the dinner table (and lunch and breakfast, too, but snacks are on their own), there is one I cannot force my brain to employ. I cannot, for the life of me, spoon my soup away from me. I remind myself what to do several times over, but (bad) habit takes over, and soon enough, I’m scooping right towards my lap. 

It’s not like I’m routinely spilling soup down my chest, but it bugs me that I can’t quite get the mechanics of this down. And I want to set a good example for my children, whom I’m trying to teach. Granted, we’re still at the remember-to-use-a-napkin stage, but still. On the other hand, it feels like this might be one of the lesser, not as important manners in the book, so maybe it’s not too big a deal?

Am I alone in this, or are there etiquette rules you have trouble following or have decided just aren’t worth it?

{Photo Credit: howtohealthylife.com}

Comments

[Em]

I had NO IDEA of this soup eating etiquette and had to look it up to find out what you were talking about. So I guess I would say that I have never followed this etiquette but find it very interesting. Maybe I'll try to do this from now on (but will most likely forget).

[Erica]

I seriously had no idea I was supposed to be doing this.

[Tara C.]

I didn't know that either! I'm sure I'm breaking rules left and right.

I have been having a lot of trouble getting my 8-year-old son to use utensils. I feel like I am constantly nagging him to USE A FORK SPAGHETTI IS NOT FINGER FOOD. Geez.

[Elsha]

I knew this rule, but I've also never been able to follow it. So awkward!

[Heather]

Uh, I will have trouble following this rule for sure, now that I know that it's a rule. Eeks.

The ladies I had tea with in December could tell you that I do NOT have tea manners. TEA ALL OVER THE TABLE AND HOT DRINK SLURPING!!!

I think that I do OK, but that's because I have stupid rules to help me: "Outside In" to remember what fork to use, and "b" and "d" to remember which bread is yours, and which drink. I DO have trouble remembering to put a pat of butter on my plate to butter my rolls, and instead just reach into the main butter dish every time I need more. So, "sorry" to anyone whom I dine with.