Sorted by Topic
From how to start and carry on a great conversation to the traits of the most admired persons.
Give your children the skills to soar through life. And gain skills to manage your relationship with family.
Tips for shining as brightly as the lights of any holiday! Plus, dining etiquette and the hallmarks of the most-liked guests and hosts.
The Latest
Father’s Day Etiquette for Blended Families
If only all family dynamics for Father’s Day were as simple and straightforward as the prose in store-bought greeting cards portrays them to be. Here’s an example from one card. Dear Dad, For being there every day, For holding my hand and drying my tears, For listening to my words and sharing your wisdom, For always letting me know you had my back and my heart, Today I sing your praises for having always sung mine. I love you with all my heart. I’m so glad you’re my one, my only, my Dad. Happy Father’s Day! It reads like the perfect card that one of the kids on an old TV sitcom would send to dear old dad, since family life on TV was always played out as uncomplicated. Today’s reality is that one out of three children in the United States will no longer be living with their biological father before theyContinue Reading
Graduation Etiquette — The Top Eleven Manners for Grads, Guests, & Families
Graduation etiquette — whether you’re a high school grad or a college grad, a proud parent, or a friend or family member who has receivedContinue Reading
Graduation Party and Gift Etiquette Plus Ideas
Are you planning a graduation party? Here’s your complete guide to the most often asked graduation party, graduation dinner, and graduation gift etiquette questions. InContinue Reading
The 5 Manners of Valentine’s Day Everyone Should Know
By: Maralee McKee People seem to have either one of two thoughts about Valentine’s Day. Some see it as the most romantic, glorious day ofContinue Reading
Links to Love from Around the Web- Valentine’s Edition!
By: Maralee McKee Here’s a collection of links to love from around the web. You’ll find Valetine’s Day centered posts and more. Enjoy!!! What isContinue Reading
The Latest
By: Maralee McKee You’ve probably heard the much quoted joke about the couple that’s been married for decades. The wife asks her husband, “Why don’t you ever tell me you love me?” The husband dryly answers, “I told you on ourContinue Reading
Continue Reading
You could send a thank you note to everyone who gave you a Christmas gift, but it’s not necessary for those you thanked in person. However, there are some people you really should write an after-Christmas thank you note to.Continue Reading
Continue Reading
Here are ten manners for hosts and guests on Christmas Day. When put into practice, if you’re having a great Christmas, they’ll help you insure that others do, too! And if you’re disappointed enough that you’re about to letContinue Reading
Continue Reading
Knowing what not to say is often more important than knowing what to say. Here are five questions not to ask at a party – at Christmas or any time. I find that people often have friends a lotContinue Reading
Continue ReadingBusiness & Technology
What to Do Right Now Instead of Shaking Hands
By: Maralee McKee Most of us learned to shake hands when we were children, and we’ve been doing it ever since. Now, twenty, thirty, or more years later, it’s second nature to us. Shaking hands is a deeply rooted social custom in the U.S. and most of the Western world, and until a few months ago, it was considered good manners 101. There’s a New Alternative to Shaking Hands That Allows for Social Distancing Now, amid a pandemic, it’s anything but polite to extend your hand. In a matter of months, shaking hands has turned from a gesture of goodwill to one of lack of consideration for the health and safety of others. Yet for many of us, our right hand, almost instinctively, extends toward the other person. The good news is that there’s something to replace the goodwill, respect, and kindness expressed with a handshake! This new action also uses our right hand. YetContinue Reading
When to Stand and Why
By: Maralee McKee With the changing roles of women in the workplace, and workplace etiquette becoming more the norm in social situations (especially inContinue Reading
Opening and Holding the Door for Others – The Top 5 Manners
By: Maralee McKee There’s more to opening and holding the door for others than turning the knob or holding it for the next person.Continue Reading
10 Outdated Etiquette Rules You No Longer Want to Use
By: Maralee McKee Using outdated etiquette rules can make us seem stuffy and out-of-sync with the expected norms of today. Here are ten old-schoolContinue Reading
Social Skills & Special Occasions
Graduation Etiquette — The Top Eleven Manners for Grads, Guests, & Families
Graduation etiquette — whether you’re a high school grad or a college grad, a proud parent, or a friend or family member who has received a graduation announcement or an invitation to the party or the actual graduation ceremony — here you’ll find the answers for all your graduation etiquette questions about graduation ceremonies, gifts, parties, dinners, and more. By: Maralee McKee At my home, we love counting down the days until our next celebration! To help, I downloaded a clock application to our home computer screen. I input the date, and we (especially the boys!) enjoy seeing how many days it is until the big event. Today the clock reads, “One Year, One Month, and 15 Days Until Marc Graduates from High School!” All the other countdowns I’ve anticipated with joy; this one I look at with an odd avoidance. I can’t come to terms yet with the fact that his childhood is speedingContinue Reading
Are you planning a graduation party? Here’s your complete guide to the most often asked graduation party, graduation dinner, and graduation gift etiquette questions. In addition, you’ll find simple yet sensational ideas for graduation party decorating, food, and gifts forContinue Reading
Continue Reading
When you’ve been invited to a dinner or party, most of the time it’s customary to bring a gift for the host or hostess as a way of showing your gratitude for having made the shortlist of guests toContinue Reading
Continue Reading
By: Maralee McKee With the changing roles of women in the workplace, and workplace etiquette becoming more the norm in social situations (especially in the US), this area of etiquette has undergone almost a total revision from what itContinue Reading
Continue Reading
By: Maralee McKee Using outdated etiquette rules can make us seem stuffy and out-of-sync with the expected norms of today. Here are ten old-school etiquette rules you’ll want to retire so that you’ll come across as current, confident, andContinue Reading
Continue ReadingDaily Life & Must-Knows
Links to Love from Around the Web- Valentine’s Edition!
By: Maralee McKee Here’s a collection of links to love from around the web. You’ll find Valetine’s Day centered posts and more. Enjoy!!! What is The History of Valentine’s Day? Valentine’s Day history is anything but romantic. Different theories abound, but the most common ones contain pagen rituals and, yikes, decapatation. Here, from NPR, is the dark histroy of the origins of our modern Valentine’s Day. Who was St. Valentine, and Why Was He Martyred? There are actually two priests named Valentine that were martyred by the same Roman emporer. Both are tied to our celebration of love. This priest stayed true to his convictions and contrary to the orders of the emporer he refused to stop performing marriage cermonies. How Did Valentine’s Day Get Known for Love? The idea that Valentine’s Day is for celebrating love is believed to have originated in this epic 699 line poem by Geoffrey Chaucer, The Parliment of Fowls. ItContinue Reading
How to Say Grace Amazingly Well This Thanksgiving and Any Time — With Examples
Saying grace before a meal, whether you’re the host or guest, can be nerve-wracking. Here’s help for saying grace amazingly well in all situations. WhyContinue Reading
Manners & More From Around the Web — Thanksgiving Edition
Here’s a curation of links from around the web gathered for your reading delight this Thanksgiving week! What really was on the menuContinue Reading
Should You Send a Christmas Card to Someone Suffering a Loss This Year?
By: Maralee McKee, The Etiquette School of America Should you send a Christmas card to someone suffering a loss this year? Absolutely! InContinue Reading
Class, Confidence, & Conversation
5 Questions Not to Ask at a Christmas…or Any Party
Knowing what not to say is often more important than knowing what to say. Here are five questions not to ask at a party – at Christmas or any time. I find that people often have friends a lot like themselves. Because of this, we probably have quite a bit in common with other people at parties we attend hosted by our friends. Meeting friends of friends is a great way for us to make new friends ourselves. At least it is if we step out on the right foot! None of us mean to say the “wrong” thing; we all want to leave others with a good impression of ourselves. However, it happens to everyone. We ask a question without realizing the impact our words had on the other person. It seemed innocent to us, so what’s making the other person emotionally back away? The answer: We asked one of the five questions most oftenContinue Reading
Saying grace before a meal, whether you’re the host or guest, can be nerve-wracking. Here’s help for saying grace amazingly well in all situations. Why Many People Are Uncomfortable Praying or Saying Grace Aloud Two of the most common fearsContinue Reading
Continue Reading
Here are 19 easy ways to look better instantly today and every day! By: Nada Manley I used to love makeover shows, but I was always slightly dejected when each episode was over. There was no miraculous makeover in theContinue Reading
Continue Reading
By: Maralee McKee Let’s talk about glove etiquette, including dress gloves, winter gloves, and wearing gloves during flu season. See the end of this article for surprising advice on wearing gloves for protection from viruses. Today’s reader question about gloveContinue Reading
Continue Reading
By: Maralee McKee With the changing roles of women in the workplace, and workplace etiquette becoming more the norm in social situations (especially in the US), this area of etiquette has undergone almost a total revision from what itContinue Reading
Continue ReadingChildren & Family
Father’s Day Etiquette for Blended Families
If only all family dynamics for Father’s Day were as simple and straightforward as the prose in store-bought greeting cards portrays them to be. Here’s an example from one card. Dear Dad, For being there every day, For holding my hand and drying my tears, For listening to my words and sharing your wisdom, For always letting me know you had my back and my heart, Today I sing your praises for having always sung mine. I love you with all my heart. I’m so glad you’re my one, my only, my Dad. Happy Father’s Day! It reads like the perfect card that one of the kids on an old TV sitcom would send to dear old dad, since family life on TV was always played out as uncomplicated. Today’s reality is that one out of three children in the United States will no longer be living with their biological father before theyContinue Reading
How to Graciously Let Others Know You Won’t Be Buying Them a Gift This Year
How do you tell people you won’t be buying them Christmas gifts this year? For your news to be well-received, you need to address bothContinue Reading
How to Say Grace Amazingly Well This Thanksgiving and Any Time — With Examples
Saying grace before a meal, whether you’re the host or guest, can be nerve-wracking. Here’s help for saying grace amazingly well in all situations. WhyContinue Reading
How to Express Gratitude Around Your Thanksgiving Table — 7 Easy and Unique Ideas
Saying thanks around our Thanksgiving table is the core of Thanksgiving Day. The holiday is a special 24 hours set aside for us not onlyContinue Reading
Holidays, Dining, & Entertaining
Father’s Day Etiquette for Blended Families
If only all family dynamics for Father’s Day were as simple and straightforward as the prose in store-bought greeting cards portrays them to be. Here’s an example from one card. Dear Dad, For being there every day, For holding my hand and drying my tears, For listening to my words and sharing your wisdom, For always letting me know you had my back and my heart, Today I sing your praises for having always sung mine. I love you with all my heart. I’m so glad you’re my one, my only, my Dad. Happy Father’s Day! It reads like the perfect card that one of the kids on an old TV sitcom would send to dear old dad, since family life on TV was always played out as uncomplicated. Today’s reality is that one out of three children in the United States will no longer be living with their biological father before theyContinue Reading
By: Maralee McKee People seem to have either one of two thoughts about Valentine’s Day. Some see it as the most romantic, glorious day of affection, gifts, and expressions of love of the year. Others view it as a dayContinue Reading
Continue Reading
By: Maralee McKee You’ve probably heard the much quoted joke about the couple that’s been married for decades. The wife asks her husband, “Why don’t you ever tell me you love me?” The husband dryly answers, “I told you on ourContinue Reading
Continue Reading
You could send a thank you note to everyone who gave you a Christmas gift, but it’s not necessary for those you thanked in person. However, there are some people you really should write an after-Christmas thank you note to.Continue Reading
Continue Reading
Here are ten manners for hosts and guests on Christmas Day. When put into practice, if you’re having a great Christmas, they’ll help you insure that others do, too! And if you’re disappointed enough that you’re about to letContinue Reading
Continue Reading