Comments on: Well, that’s a bit rude.

By: sunny

sunny — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 08:03:00 +0000

nah…generally, i don’t think chinese parents send greeting cards to their kids. also they wouldn’t spend the $ to send them to etiquette school b/c life is strict enough at home.

By: XJ

XJ — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 08:31:22 +0000

Yes! That was the first thing that struck me too. Who gives a 7-year old a card like that? Like you, all my cards from my parents had cartoon animals on them, until I was well out of grade school.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 06:18:36 +0000

You can use “were” instead of “was” as well, seeing as Lauren was talking about a hypothetical situation.

By: Alice

Alice — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 18:12:50 +0000

Yeah, maybe she was, but this isn’t how you deal with it. Children can be horrible– but they’re also sensitive, especially when it comes to their parents. You’re young and naive, and you finally get a day where good things happen just for you, and your parents don’t even pretend to like you.

If the kid was a monstrous she-devil, we know who she learned it from.

By: Poltergeist

Poltergeist — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 17:37:47 +0000

The idea that some children behave terribly isn’t unpopular since it’s the truth, but regardless of Emily’s behavior, this was an extremely poor way to go about addressing the issue.

By: bloop

bloop — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 06:28:37 +0000

Unpopular opinion, but…a lot of kids are complete sh*ts. The parents definitely sound unpleasant, but it’s very possible that little Emily was, in fact, a monstrous she-devil.

By: agerman

agerman — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 14:04:21 +0000

There is a German saying: Kinder erziehen ist zwecklos, sie machen den Eltern doch alles nach.

Tries to translate:

Educating children is futile, they just do like their parents.

By: Poltergeist

Poltergeist — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 17:18:36 +0000

No, Lauren was correct in her use of the word “was.”

You’re obviously not ready to take on the responsibilities of being a Raichu. Please devolve into a Pikachu.

By: redheadwglasses

redheadwglasses — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 16:19:02 +0000

I think having your parents admit things like this can make a huge difference in your understanding of them, and that they really were just trying their best.

By: redheadwglasses

redheadwglasses — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 16:17:21 +0000

Exactly this. If you have to send your child to “school” for etiquette, you’ve already failed as a parent.

By: raichu

raichu — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 02:01:13 +0000

*were

By: Alice

Alice — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 01:09:00 +0000

You’re right, Anony. Sorry ’bout that. I’m not really cut out to combat American stereotypes.

By: Anony

Anony — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 00:13:52 +0000

@Alice: *you’re

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 19:16:17 +0000

When I hear ettiquite school (and words like “couth”) it makes me think of people who care more about appearance than reality. Manners are important (if only to avoid hurting others feelings), but that’s not what they teach at Ms. Manner’s academy.

If you’re worried that your 7 year old is using the wrong fork on their salad…well go fork yourself.