Children love dining etiquette...really!

Our next training week is right around the corner.

When we certify our children's etiquette consultants, we bring them into our Perfectly Polished classroom. They see us in action and get hands-on training, working with the wonderful young people we teach.

One thing our students have been loving learning lately is dining etiquette. Seriously!

They are really into the idea of dinner parties, which has sparked much conversation on:

• How to pass items around the table

• How to start good dinner conversations

• How to be seated, order, and talk with wait staff in restaurants

• How to know when it's appropriate to begin eating

• How to know where you put your napkin

...And even more than that. We hear a lot about young people being self-centered, unaware, unable to look beyond the screen of their phone or tablet. We know better.

We know an entire generation ready to not only embrace etiquette — the notion of treating others with kindness and respect — but cares about it. Would you like to be instrumental in shaping the future of that generation? Get in touch with us today!

What Do I Do...Fine Dining Edition

We’ve talked a lot lately about the “What Ifs” in life—handling those unexpected moments that could range from split pants, an online argument, or biting into too-hot food. Today, let’s talk about fine dining without fear!

WHAT DO I DO…if I’m at a formal meal and don’t know what utensil to use?

Watch the host, hostess, the senior person at your table—or the one you think has the most dining savvy! “Formal” can mean a wide variety of things, but we can say that there will always be two guidelines to help up navigate the table setting, whether it’s for a formal meal, a casual one, or a picnic. Those guidelines are:

1.  Watch your host/hostess

2.  Start from the outside and work toward the plate

If the occasion is most formal and you are facing multiple forks, spoons, and knives, start with the outermost utensil of each kind to begin the meal. Think of it as if the utensils are placed in order of their use, so start with the utensils farthest away from the plate, working in toward the plate. Know that those utensils are planned and paired with each specific course, so you’ll have the usable utensils to enjoy eating that particular course. Now, that is the essence of good manners: a host/hostess that has planned the table setting so that you will have the utensils you need!

What Do I Do...Ms./Mrs./Miss Edition with Dawn Jumper

If you ever find yourself worrying about the etiquette "what ifs"—we're here for you. After discussing ripped pants, too-hot foods, forgetting someone's name mid-introduction, and Facebook drama...let's talk about how to address women by last name in a formal setting.

And we're getting some extra help to answer the "Ms., Miss, or Mrs." question. Thank you, Dawn Jumper, etiquette consultant of Chattanooga-based The Etiquette Company!

Now, onto....

WHAT DO I DO...if I'm not sure whether to call someone Ms., Mrs. or Miss?

Dawn Jumper says:

The answer is: it depends.

If you are referring to a young unmarried woman then Miss is acceptable. The challenge is how to define "young," because as those of us over 30 know, "young" is a relative term! I use the rule of thumb of college age and below for the use of Miss.

If you are addressing a woman who you know is married and has taken her husband's last name, it is acceptable to use Mrs.  Mrs. tends to be used more often in social settings.

You often do not know which last name (her husband's or her maiden) a woman is using , so play it safe and use Ms. Over time as you do get to know her, you will learn how she prefers to be addressed and you can adjust accordingly.

If a woman has kept her maiden name, only address her by Ms.

You may also use Ms. for a married woman who uses her husband's last name.

Ms. is always acceptable in business settings regardless of age and martial status. Wondering how to pronounce Ms.? It rhymes with "quiz".

The take away:

• Ms. is always an acceptable option.
• Miss can be a useful designation for a young unmarried lady.
• Mrs. should only be used if you know the woman is married and has taken her husband's last name.

Thanks, Dawn!

What Do I Do...Online Drama Edition

If you get stressed out over all the etiquette “What Ifs” in life—well, do we ever have help for you, even if you’re online!

WHAT DO I DO….if Facebook gets inflammatory?

Facebook can be a hotbed of lively discussion…but let’s be frank, it can also be a hot mess, especially when “friends” start acting less than friendly.

What do you do if someone leaves an insensitive or downright rude comment on a post, or posts something that really pushes your buttons? There is really only one thing to do: ignore it. As hard as it may be, resist the urge to respond. You can apply this rule of thumb to politics, religion, controversy in general, or any personal comments about someone’s looks—unless it’s complimentary, of course!

If you feel very strongly that the inflammatory comments must be addressed, do so by personal message only—not by leaving a comment others will see. You’ll be grateful later that you didn’t lose your temper in public! Like it or not, your social media presence becomes your “personal brand”—how others see you. Take the high road!

Stay tuned for our next What If!

What Do I Do...Forgetting Names Edition

We all have those “What If” moments—like, what if I split my pants? What if I take a bite of too-hot food in public? Or…

WHAT DO I DO…if I blank on someone’s name, mid-introduction?

“Hello, I’d like to introduce to you…” Who, exactly? Oh no, you’ve forgotten the other person’s name!

This happens to everyone, and the solution is simple: Smile and say, “Your name has escaped me.” Then the other person should pick up the introduction and run with it. If they miss the hint, say again that you’ve forgotten the name—just do it with a smile.

It’s far better to admit that you’ve blanked rather than not make the introduction. Make the introduction as best you can! The more you practice making introductions—even with people whose names you’ve forgotten—the better you’ll get at it.

Stay tuned for our next What If!

What Do I Do...Hot Food Edition

Welcome back to yet another installment in which we explore those worrisome "What Ifs"...safely, of course. 

Last time we talked about splitting your pants in public (yes, really!) This time...

WHAT DO I DO…if I bite into too-hot food in public?

Surprise! The food on your plate, now in your mouth, is way more hot or spicy than you anticipated. Your natural instinct is to spit it out, and we understand—you have to act fast—but we recommend another path!

If you can, quickly take a swallow of water or another cool drink. If there is no beverage and your mouth is on fire, quickly take the food out of your mouth, using you fingers, and place the offending food on the edge of your plate. You can do all of this subtly—the trick is to not call attention to your dilemma. And do not put the hot food in the napkin—it’ll ruin the napkin beyond use and you want that to remain usable throughout the meal.

Stay tuned for our next What If!

What Happens When My Pants Rip (No, Really!)?

We all have panicked emergency moments in public…in which something unthinkable but not impossible happens…those extreme, desperate moments that have you scrambling for your next move…The “What if THIS happens?” moments.

We’re here to help! We’ll launch our first installment with a bang…

WHAT DO I DO…if I split my pants in public?

This really does happen! We have personal knowledge of accompanying a supervisor around very closely to shield unraveling stitches in the seat. Awkward, yes—but better than others noticing. If your pants split and you are lucky enough to get someone to “have your back,” go for it!

If you don’t have that option, cover the rip best you can with a purse, bookbag, backpack, or other bag.

Of course you want to solve this problem as quickly as possible, but sometimes you can’t get home right away. We say: confidently ask for help. More often than you think, clerks, sales associates, waitresses or others working around you carry a sewing kit. You can say: “I need to borrow a sewing kit; do you have one?” You don’t have to say why you need the kit. Good customer service people will understand and help.

Also—might be a good idea to carry a small sewing kit yourself!

Stay tuned for our next What If!