Ask Amy: Wonderful grandson is terrible at the table
Dear Amy: We have recently been reunited with our son's child after 10 years. He is 13 -- and is delightful, well behaved, and intelligent.
However, unfortunately, he has terrible table manners.
We went to a restaurant and it soon became apparent that he has never been shown how to use a knife, a napkin, etc.
I didn't want to be critical, so I tried saying things like, "I find it easier to cut my food if I hold the knife this way," or, "I put my napkin in my lap so I can wipe me mouth," -- that sort of thing.
This was met with a blank look and the behavior resumed.
It won't be possible to speak to his mother about it, and again, I don't want to be critical.
How can I teach him table manners, other than modeling good behavior?
-- Mannerly Grandmother
Dear Mannerly: You have just met this boy. I infer from this that there has been substantial upheaval in his life -- perhaps a parental split and possibly a custody shift.
If his father is on the scene, it would be most logical to speak with him about it. You might assume that he has mainly eaten directly out of fast-food bags.
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