The Polite One's Insights

Exploring the Gift Mania Craze How and when did this happen?   It seems that suddenly, the masses consider most any occasion a gift-giving situation.   Taking it a greedy step further, the gift-crazed often create personalized gift-giving events.   Even worse, these gift-miners inform their dollar-poor guests what gifts they prefer.   To that, I must say, “Yikes!”   Some etiquette rules evolved due to this phenomenon.   Whereas in the past, it was inappropriate to mention ‘no gifts please’ in birthday, graduation, vow renewal, and anniversary party invitations, now we can.   It was inevitable.   After all, when so many feel entitled to a gift, we need a little guidance.     Let us try to remember the basics.   Gifts should be given from the heart and because we want to give.   Most importantly, we should never expect one for any occasion.   Here is a bit of Q & A to help get us back on the proper etiquette roa...

  Birthday Party Etiquette So, you want to host a special party that is in good taste.   What to do?   Considering that a child's birthday party is a gift-giving event, there is some etiquette to consider.  Since you are your child's best teacher, it's best you know what this etiquette is; and as such, you can use this event as a teaching tool.   Involve your child in the planning of the party with a focus on his/her guests in mind: refreshments, activities, thank you gifts, and notes.    Here's a bit of Q & A to help you and your child to plan politely. Dear Polite One,   I am inviting all my daughter's friends to her 12th birthday party . However, she wants her three closest friends to stay afterward for a sleepover.  When the party is over, how can I politely dismiss the eight girls who are not invited to the sleepover?    Sleepover, Dear Sleepover,  Ouch!...

  Birthday Party Etiquette Hosting an adult birthday party can be tricky since many don't realize it isn't a gift-giving event.  If gifts are expected, the birthday baby could appear greedy.  Imagine an adult birthday party resembling a child's party focusing on gifts--very silly, indeed.  On the positive side, because gifts are not the focus, it opens up the possibility of hosting our own.  This is a plus for those of us who view our friends as the best birthday present.   Now we can have our cake and eat it too! To assist us with hosting a party that will be viewed as positive and polite, here's a bit of birthday party etiquette Q & A. Dear Polite One, I invited 30 people (15 couples) to a birthday party I'm hosting for a 45-year-old male.  I designed the invitations to look like a ticket stub, which includes a door prize stub.  My question is this: What are appropriate door prizes? What should be...