Today: A nasty ‘tude.

I witnessed a grown man throwing a full on temper tantrum at the post office this week.  To quote one of the ten-year-olds I’ve had the privilege of working with, “Bro had a nasty ‘tude.”  After berating the person working at the front desk, the guy then descended upon the branch manager.  Didn’t she know he had a meeting to get to?  What kind of idiots did they have working there?  After saying his piece, he put his headphones on and pretended he couldn’t hear what the manager was saying in response.  Rude, crude, and socially unacceptable.

I am usually terrible when it comes to guessing a person’s age, but I think the guy was older than me.  Or perhaps not as devoted to his anti-wrinkle and skin care regimen as I am.  Suffice it to say, he was an adult.

There are a lot of great things that come with being a grown up: being old enough to vote,  getting to drive a car, not ever doing math homework… like ever, drinking bubbly cocktails with your pals, staying up as late as you want.  But there are some downsides, too.

Sometimes we get so caught up in being important and busy that we forget to play by the rules we learned as kids.  Rules such as:

1. Use your indoor voice.
2. If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all.
3. Sharing is caring (except when it comes to germs).
4. Don’t interrupt.
5. No running in the hallways (especially when holding scissors).
6. Look both ways before crossing the street.
7. Keep your hands to yourself.
8. Don’t talk to strangers.

I was tempted to remind O Ye of Little Manners of this list, but kept my eyes averted instead.  And when I got to the front of the line, I went a bit overboard in thanking the post office employees for their dedicated service to our country.  And for the safe delivery of my Martha Stewart Living each month.  In a calm, indoor voice.

While there’s something to be said for acting your age, we’d do well to act like a kid every now and then.

Also On Tap for Today:

• Sure, it’s cold… but this weather is good for us
• Ordering wedding photos!
• Helpful meal planning tips

What is your favorite childhood rule?