14 Year Old Olivia
The memories I have of 14-year-old Olivia are not always my fondest memories. As an 8th grader in the early 2000s, my style was off the charts! One of my favorite outfits was my orange basketball shorts, with my orange basketball shirt, and my obnoxious orange basketball shoes… WOW! My fashionista mom must have died a little inside each time I left the house in my outfit of choice! Nevertheless, I am so thankful she slowly, kindly, and VERY gently encouraged my style to change. As a middle schooler, I would have been crushed if my mom harshly critiqued my style. Thankfully, my mom’s eye for beauty has finally rubbed off on me! 🙂
Let’s face it, middle school is hard! God bless middle school parents, teachers, and siblings! It is a difficult time!
Today, social media escalates selfconsciousness and gravely damages self-confidence!
Now there are tons of different directions one can take to solve these problems, discuss solutions, and investigate the root of the problem. There are truly countless reasons, middle schoolers today are light years behind mentally, spiritually, and physically from our forefathers. But, there is hope! There are good parents, loving, teaching, and guiding young adults all over the world! They are raising up a generation of courage, truth, and grace!
There is hope, there always is!
I would like to direct your attention to one man in particular, in which I love studying.
14 Year Old George Washington
In 1746, 273 years ago, this young man sat down to intentionally improve his intellect, morality, humanity, and his manners!
This 14-year-old was George Washington the United States’ first President!
At the age of 14, George Washington penned The Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation! The small book included 110 rules for himself in which Washington drew from a French book of maxims.
I would like to share with you George Washington’s first 5 rules for proper etiquette!
5 Rules of Etiquette from Washington
- “Every action done in company ought to be with some sign of respect to those that are present.
- “When in the company, put not your hand to any part of the body, not usually discovered.
- “Show nothing to your friend that might affright him.
- “In the presence of others sing not to yourself with a humming noise, nor drum with your fingers or feet.
- “If you cough, sneeze, sigh, or yawn, do it not loud but privately; and speak not in your yawning, but put your handkerchief or hand before your face and turn aside.”
As a lady, I still need to work on all of these!!! It’s incredibly humbling, a 14-year-old boy wrote this! Washington was dedicated and serious about pursuing the essence of being a true gentleman! It is honorable and admirable!! Here are the same 5 rules in modern-day language.
- Always act RESPECTFULLY!
- Do NOT scratch clothed parts of your body!
- Be kind and don’t scare your friends.
- Stop humming and tapping!
- Leave the room to cough, sneeze, or yawn. Never speak while yawning! (in the comfort of my family, I do this! whoops!)
Etiquette Really Works!
As a former teacher, encouraging respectful behavior through the personal testimony of young George Washington instantly gained attention! 9-year-old boys soon found themselves imitating the young president’s manners and likewise found pride in knowing they were growing in goodness and grace!
Washington regularly practiced these manners as he desired to live the life of a true gentleman and thus influenced a group of young 4th graders of the 21st century!
Learn more about Colonial American Education!
Do you think you are smarter than a 1st grader? Or do you think you are smarter than a 4th grader?
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