O-mama - Opinionated Moms

Martine Cotillion

The most hysterical thing happened last night - my son went to cotillion.  Yep, girls in white gloves, boys in coat and tie learning the Cha Cha!  My son's collar was all scrunched up and he looked miserable, but it was deliciously charming.

When you think of cotillion and debutantes, your imagination might take you to the southern belle version seen in the movies.  This was more like the California kids version - 3rd graders used to running barefoot on the beach in their free time, forced into suits that were either too big or too small.  It was comedic...and so sweet.

My husband is the perfect product of Martine Cotillion.  Believe me, he doesn't look the part.  He didn't then and he doesn't now.  But, he learned at an early age that manners are an important part of refined social skills.  They affect how people respond to you.  They put people at ease and it reflects well on your parents.  (-:

He learned how to:

• sit up straight in fancy clothes

• introduce yourself using your first and last name 

• look someone in the eye and shake their hand; kids should wait until adults hold out their hand first and squeeze back with the same pressure as the adult squeezes (who knew?) 

• ask a gal to dance; the art of cutting in

• do classic dance steps

• escort a lady to the snack table - where to hold your arm/how she should grip you

• how to offer a gal some fruit punch and a cookie and where to put her gloves, while she enjoys the treats

• say "thank you" and what for (i.e., Thank you for the dance)

Those are the seven little tips my son learned in class #1 and that my husband used to court my family!  Not me, his lips got me, but his manners won my family over.  It worked like a dream when he met my Noni for the first time.  And, it worked like magic when he met my Dad.  They saw past the crazy hair and fell in love with him - just like I did.  He really worked the crowd at our wedding, too.  Ooed and wooed one and all.  I credit his parents the most, but they got reinforcements from Martine Cotillion!

So, I have high hopes for my son's cotillion experience.  He's a really good boy, but I've literally told him 8,760 times to put his napkin on his lap (that's 3 times a day x 365 days a year x 8 years - he's 9, but I let him off the hook for the first 12+ months)!  So, any reinforcements I'll gladly accept.

MOMism:  "You never get a second chance to make a first impression." We teach our KID-Os to put their best foot forward. Stand up tall. Sit up straight. Look someone in the eyes. Say "please" and "thank you." Why? Because we know opinions are formed in a split second. As an adult, if you don't look someone in the eye, they may not trust you. If you don't know how to shake someone's hand, you might not win over a protective Dad. But, if you know how to address people and how to treat a lady with courtesy and respect, it reflects well on you and your MAMA!