Learning How To Be Respectful

Children are not born knowing how to be respectful to others.  This is something that their parents (and adults in general) need to teach them - typically from a very young age.  Not only do they need to be taught, but they also need to be shown.   The phrase "Lead By Example" should be tattooed on every parents brain.
Jim and I have always been on the same page with this.  We work very hard to instill good manners, morals and values into our children.

Last night Randy, Sheila and I planned a fun Easter-Related Pack Meeting for the Cub Scouts.  They played a game, made an Easter basket out of paper (which I then filled with candy & goodies) and then Mrs. Primmer - St. Brendan's Faith Coordinator - came in to speak to them about the actual meaning of Easter.  As usual we crammed a whole bunch of stuff into our one hour meeting, keeping the kids happy and entertained.  Sheila and I made sure that we had enough supplies to keep the siblings busy too - so all of the kids had a fun time!  My girls had a great time coloring in their Easter baskets, as did Kyle who got quite creative with his!  But despite everyone having a great time, I left feeling frustrated and discouraged...

Many of the boys were rude and disrespectful through out the entire meeting, from start to finish.  They barked out demands and were impolite - not only to me, but to others as well.  I found them to be exceptionally disrespectful when Mrs. Primmer was speaking.  If they weren't interrupting her then they were talking about something non-related to what she was saying to others.  When I was filling their bags with candy & goodies they were complaining over what they were getting - i.e., I don't like Lollipops, I only got 5 jelly beans, Easter Pencils are stupid!.  When I asked specific children to help clean up the floor they literally looked right at me and said "no".  I found them to be acting like greedy, spoiled brats.  Meanwhile, my 3 children were tickled pink with the goodies they got in their bags and Kyle was the FIRST one to help clean up the floors, without needing to be asked to do so.

After the meeting, as I sat down and reflected upon the events that took place, I couldn't help but wonder what these kids are like at home and at school.  Do the adults in their lives allow them to speak so disrespectfully?  Do their parents condone this type of behavior?  Are any of them being taught to be polite???

Frustrating, to say the least.  I am tempted to host a meeting for all of the Cub Scouts - in every den - with the subject being "Respect".