An interesting aspect of Northwest Coast culture was the emphasis on teaching children etiquette, moral standards, and other traditions of social import.
I tried to give the children an etiquette lesson while we were waiting at King's Cross on December 30th.
Instead of sitting at the dinner table with your own offspring, reminding them not to interrupt their father, to sit up straight, and to stop that disgusting slurping, you can sign them up for "Manners for Children: The Etiquette Advantage".
Departures are May 30 to Sept. 15, and one feature of the cruise is the Cotillion program, which attempts to teach children social etiquette and ballroom dancing (results may vary).
"The idea is not to be hurtful," said Cindy Post Senning, the great-granddaughter of the manners doyenne Emily Post, a director of the Emily Post Institute in Burlington, Vt., and an author of children's etiquette books including "Emily's Everyday Manners" (HarperCollins, 2006).
I also did a short course in children's etiquette at the Protocol School of Washington in 2004.
Rather than run away from technology use, consider it an opportunity to educate your child, demonstrate proper etiquette, and test out rules.
Oufoula certainly has the makings of a contemporary tragic figure -- and it's a pleasure to follow the wanderings of his mind as he reflects on the wooden face carvings that mesmerized him as a young child, the intricate etiquette of diplomatic work, his abiding passion for great literature.
Show your child the exiting/entering etiquette.
If you are attending a show with a small child, discuss concert etiquette before you arrive and make sure they follow these guidelines throughout the performance.
