I once had a lovely female coworker who endorsed professional etiquette training for women. Being a jeans-and-sneakers, to-each-her-own, can't-get-a-man-with-a-gun kind of gal, I bawked at her dainty, frilly ways.
Now, years later, I've come upon a website so appalling and yet so...dare I say it...useful, that I feel compelled to share it.
It's Good Housekeeping's Peggy Post on Etiquette for Today. I have to hand it to Peggy Post. The woman has an answer for everything. Invitation said not to bring a gift? Peggy knows what to do. In-laws expect you to wait on them hand and foot? Peggy can get them to pitch in. Neighbor lets her son play in your yard without asking? Peggy will tell you what to say. Peggy, Peggy, Peggy.
I resent someone suggesting that I sit a certain way to appear "ladylike." But that's not what this etiquette site is about. It's a how-to for life's awkward situations. And especially for ADDers who suffer from chronic foot-in-mouth disease, this is a very useful tool.
The bad news for me is that I've breached so many of these etiquette guidelines that now I feel totally embarrassed. I've been applying makeup on public transportation for as long as I can remember. Now what? I have to get up 15 minutes earlier? Sorry Peggy. Ain't gonna happen.
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