Whatever happened to parents teaching kids manners ???

I absolutely agree.  We also get compliments - pretty much all the time - on how polite, well-mannered, etc. our boys are.  They ALWAYS say please, thank you, excuse me, etc.  They also - on their own - thank either DH or I at every meal for making them the meal - even if they don't like it, LOL.

DH and I also use the same respectful words to our kids, so I believe a lot is truly modeling proper behavior.

As for opening doors, all three of my boys open doors for me and for anyone else they see coming.  Sometimes it's a contest to see who can get there first to open the door for people.  What's SAD is that many, many of those adults for whom my boys are opening/holding the door never look at them and never say thank you.  But, it's a good lesson to the boys - to do what's right without reward or recognition.

I work in a preschool and am amazed at how few children know basic manners.  Please and thank you are never used.  They don't say excuse me when they burp or bump into someone.  When I asked, "what do you say?" they look at me like I have 2 heads.

yes, i feel the same way, and raise my child with the same manners. it's funny because his friends don't use their manners at home, but at our house they do.

I do!!! My daughter is extremely polite-and I'm especially proud of this fact because my daughter is autistic. If an autistic child can be taught proper use of manners why is it so hard for parents of normal kids to teach common courtesy these days? It was no extra effort with a special needs child to reinforce expectations of manners,a "regular" child wouldn't take extra effort either.

Teachers have told me our daughter is "a breath of fresh air in the classroom".

I was taught the same manners as a child as the OP and I expect the same of our daughter-she understands and abides.

Quoting tennisgal:

This is certainly not directed at you, but every other mom on this site says, "My children are perfectly well behaved. I get compliments all the time," but I very seldom see moms on here even be civil to each other, let alone dare I say kind to one another, even in giving advice on how to deal with other people, it is always vindictive and nasty, so I do not have any trouble believing that with those sort of examples at home kids just don't get taught RESPECTFUL behavior. 

I agree, I have seen some "women" on her treat each other horrifically. What ever happened to if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all? It is possible to disagree with someone without resorting to name calling and bashing. It does not validate your position/opinion, it only serves to make you appear to be an ignorant bully IMO.

 I was taught old school style and was expected to use my manners at all times.  I have taught my children to use them.  I know they use them because people have told me that they do.  I also know that  some adults need to used them too.

my son say please -thank you-welcome-and excuse me and he is only 4 years old i make sure he knows these things so when he goes to school he will know better

My three-year-old has better manners than my two teenage step-children living in the house have had since I first met them. It is very important to me that my boys learn how to be polite. Children are a product of their raising and when the parents don't have manners and teach by example the kids don't stand a chance. :-(

I get compliments a little too often about my boys as well.  I don't mind the compliments, thanks, but it's kinda pathetic that they are so "odd" to people.

I do agree most women do bash other women a lot on hear .

Quoting LadySaphira:

Quoting tennisgal:

This is certainly not directed at you, but every other mom on this site says, "My children are perfectly well behaved. I get compliments all the time," but I very seldom see moms on here even be civil to each other, let alone dare I say kind to one another, even in giving advice on how to deal with other people, it is always vindictive and nasty, so I do not have any trouble believing that with those sort of examples at home kids just don't get taught RESPECTFUL behavior. 

I agree, I have seen some "women" on her treat each other horrifically. What ever happened to if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all? It is possible to disagree with someone without resorting to name calling and bashing. It does not validate your position/opinion, it only serves to make you appear to be an ignorant bully IMO.