THE IMPORTANCE OF 'MAY I?'

This past Xmas holiday, I had the honor of serving on my Estate's annual Christmas party committee....it ended up being a 2 member committee only mr Lawrence and I. To get donations for the party, was the proverbial camel going through the eye of the needle.

We were able to scramble enough donations both in kind and in cash and put together a nice party (even if I do say so myself). The kids had fun. The non-contributing adults, were the overwhelming majority. We didn't mind because we had more than enough food to go round, we had hors d'oeuvre (small chops) asun (no translation will suffice) and barbeque.

What irked me the most was the way the adults would ask for things. I went up to one gentleman ad asked him what he would like. He answered "I need asun"......here was me with my face frozen in disbelief. A grown man who could not ask for things in a polite manner. I took a deep breath and dutifully went off to fetch the "needed" asun. When my little one says "mummy I need..." I tell her "baby, the only thing you need is God." I did not even get a 'Thank you' from him.

 

At my day job, I come across the "I need..." statement a lot. Only yesterday, Mr Koku says to me "Mrs Alebiosu do you have letter headed paper?" I answer "yes I do" he replies "I need". I'm thinking to myself "hmmmmn okay and....?" out loud I say "Mr Koku you haven't asked me for it. What you should say is 'May I please have one?'..." He took the correction in good faith. I did feel bad about schooling him. I hope I didn't sound pompous and arrogant. I like him that's why I bothered.

"May I", is one of the Magic words kids learn at Manners Matter. In my Etiquette classes, I hear the catchy tune the kids sing reciting the Magic Words learnt at school....it's up to me to teach them the appropriate places to use these words. It's important to do so, so its not just a catchy song but real life application.

"May I please sign off?"

Yeye Bush
...be Your Best Always!