Is Common Courtesy Lost?

It's spring, and naturally, as one is apt to do as the flowers begin to bloom and the sun starts emitting it's fabulous warmth thought turn to deep topics, such as common courtesy (no? just me then?  Okey dokey).

Is common courtesy lost?  Are we not teaching our children the art of being aware of their surroundings and others in it?  Further, to actually be considerate of those that surround them?

To, for example, move the lickety split out of the way when I pass them on the sidewalk.  I know, I know, who do I think I am the bloody Queen of England? 

Or is it just that when a kid hits age thirteen all form of courtesy goes out the proverbial window?

I know I sound like an old lady here, droning on (and I am totally looking down my nose too) about how kids today are nothing like the kids of my generation but gall darn it, I really think it’s true.

We do a lot of walking as a family, to and from school, thrice daily, rain, shine or frickety frackin -40 temperatures (not that I am bitter about those) and countless times I have to literally fight for position on the sidewalk from some tween in short shorts armed with a cell phone.  I am focusing on the tweens here, because let’s face it, the teens are all driving their fancy cars around (seriously people, does a sixteen year old need a brand new Mustang?) and causing road rage a plenty, but that’s another rant altogether.

I am generalizing here, only for the sake of demonstrating a point.  They are not all inconsiderate beasts, probably only 5-20% of them are.  And Murphy and his law dictate that those are the ones I will meet on the sidewalk.  The ones who are standing in a group smack dab in the middle of the path through the park refusing to move even when I make eye contact with one of them.

Once I almost allowed my kids to run over a similar group with their bikes.  Almost.   And then the little snot nosed twits were mocking me after I got annoyed with them for not moving despite having asked politely.

I kid you not.  My husband, being of sound mind (unlike me) had to physically restrain me with a gag.

I have had enough of these encounters such that now I have a very strong opinion of all tweens and their “all about me” attitude.  It’s wrong, I know.  But I also think that some of these kids have no idea that there are consequences to their actions.

It’s the simple things.  Kids have to be taught to be considerate and in our society, where it seems kids today seem to get all they want, this is sadly lacking.

Or do they all just have it in for me?

Original post to Canada Moms Blog.  Kami also rants a plenty at Kami's Khlopchyk