It is the passion of my heart to inspire parents across America to take their children to Mount Vernon and study about George Washington! In this blog post, I will explain why Mount Vernon is an important place to me personally and will inspire you to help your family grow in good manners for kids.
Why I Love Mount Vernon
My boys (ages 8, 9, 10, 11), my girls (ages 6 and 7) and I traveled every year to Mt Vernon to tour the campus and write papers about our experiences. I required my children to keep a summer journal, which they could use to recount and share their travels when they returned to school in the fall.
These history vacations inspired my six children to serve their country. James Jr. graduated USNA in 2010 and is currently an associate lawyer in Houston. Samuel Long graduated in 2011 from USNA and is a lawyer in Houston, Dr. Charles Long is a 2012 graduate of West Point and currently a resident in Oral Surgery in San Antonio. John Long is a 2013 graduate of West Point, Lainie Beth Hoffer is a 2015 graduate of USAFA and Lindy Long Jones graduated from USAFA in 2017.
Each of my children were inspired from our travels and studies about our Founding Fathers…from Mount Vernon to the White House to our nation’s military academies. When I teach etiquette, I tell parents that seeing and understanding our heritage of civility will be the beginning of manners. Visiting Mount Vernon planted seeds of civility in my children who are now sowing seeds in others today.
It would all begin the day school let out for the summer in 2000. We left Newnan, Georgia and drove to Washington DC with grandmother, Pat Burton, riding with us. We arrived around midnight and our first stop would be Mount Vernon. While on this history vacation, we bought Halloween costumes for the fall so the children could represent people with a positive influence. This was only the beginning. Eventually, all four boys became Eagle Scouts, and all six children graduated with honors from military academies.
I want to teach parents that preparation starts at the cradle. Life with your children should include time reading, studying and visiting our nation’s treasures. Teach them about the importance of democracy. In the fifth grade, my son wrote an essay entitled, “America, hear my cry”. This son later fought in Afghanistan and is currently in residency for maxillofacial surgery. He knew and understood that “when you fail, you get up and go again”.
George Washington’s life reflects perseverance. We must instill these values into future generations. Civility is at an all-time low in society. Why? Simply because society doesn’t place value on teaching an attitude of servanthood. Instead, servanthood has been replaced with selfishness. We charge through life trying to benefit ourselves and have no sense of discipleship / servanthood. Service was an active part of our lives…from Eagle Scouts to helping with Feed the Hungry, to serving as missionaries in Honduras and Kenya. These were vacations of real value!
Today, American life lacks civility. Our free society was founded by gentlemen that depended on gentlemanly ideals for both prosperity and its posterity. We should all be striving for balance and restraint.
Civility and Chivalry: Getting Back to Basics
What is civility? What is chivalry? How do I promote manners and etiquette? The words “civility”, “civilization”, “civic” and “civil” all have their root in the Latin word, “civis”. Civilization means “life in the city”.
Civility refers to manners in the form of speech and behavior, while chivalry relates to honesty, humility and a man’s behavior toward a woman. Yes, I believe wholeheartedly in chivalry. As my mom would say, “If you act like a lady, most likely you will be treated like a lady.” I have found this to be true in my life. In those rare moments when gentlemen might have attempted to cross the line, I could nip the behavior in the bud quickly and this would redirect inappropriate behavior back into the direction of chivalry.
What is a True Gentleman?
A true gentlemen will possess traits of chivalry. This is a word I use often and teach in all my lessons. What does chivalry mean? Chivalrous behavior means to…
- Be a protector of the weak.
- To maintain honor and courage at all times.
- To hold women in high regard. Women still need men to act in a chivalrous way. Just ask the women in the Marines who are on the battlefield.
- A gentleman who possesses chivalry is always on the side of justice.
- A gentleman who possesses chivalry is courteous.
- A gentleman who possesses chivalry is not self-absorbed.
- A gentleman who possesses chivalry is a team player.
- A gentleman who possesses chivalry is honest.
- A gentleman who possesses chivalry is polite.
Society is starving for gentlemen…men who stand for honesty and integrity, men who love their God and family. Men who live for the good of others. Men who wish to leave behind the legacy of a virtuous life.
Essentially, what goes into one’s mind will come out of one’s mouth. Thoughts become words and words become actions. So, let’s start with our thoughts. Manners will abound if a person has a servant’s heart, loves his neighbor and lives with a desire to die to self and live for the good of others.
As for chivalry, I think the Holy Book, the Bible, can help all who read it. It is not my desire to offend those of other faiths, but I believe the Holy Book sets the course for chivalry, civility and manners. Honesty, truth, humility, sacrifice and the Golden Rule (love your neighbor as yourself) all stem from the Bible. My teaching cannot empower without the Golden Rule.
As a Christian, I am reminded that the fourth commandment not only requires that children obey their parents, but that they do their duty to their country and its leaders. The catechism of the Catholic Church explains that the fourth commandment addresses the relationship of children to their parents. It requires honor, affection and gratitude towards elders and ancestors.
Need Some Manners for Kids Help?
While planning your summer, make Mount Vernon a part of your family vacation. Create a memory for your children. Brief them before they go and tell them stories about the history of our First President of the United States. Learning is inspirational and inspiration is elevation that is revelational.
Students have a duty to honor teachers, employees to employers, subordinates to leaders and citizens to their country and to those who administer the law. Respect comes from seeing and doing. We must teach our children respect to all. As part of this, I give George Washington’s Rules of Civility to students who take my private classes.
If you’d like your children to take one of my private etiquette classes, use the link below to contact me and book your session in the Dallas area. My group or private etiquette sessions can help students of all ages learn the social skills they need to succeed at home, in school interactions and throughout life.
Our Dallas etiquette expert can help you! Reach out via our Contact page to request your manners for kids session with Lisa today! The Dallas School of Etiquette also offers business etiquette and fine dining sessions for teens and adults.