Now the great thing about the world is that 'It takes all kinds'. Because it is important to me doesn't mean it is to the lady in front of me at the grocery store. And that is absolutely OK. But to the male of the species please don't assume we are all like the one lady in front of me in line. Your safer being polite to everyone. If someone gets bent because you held a door for them they are either having a crappy day or they are really grumpy in general. The thing is men, a small jester goes a long way. Besides the fact that your putting good Karma out there, your also increasing your chances of changing your life forever. I call this manners math. You may laugh, but this could be you. So your not married, or dating anyone. You headed into your local Target for a t-shirt and shaving cream and as you enter the store a woman twice your age, or a woman not your type, or a woman half your age etc, etc, etc approaches the store door at the same time as you. Because your not an ass, and your Momma raised you right you pull the door open and say "Ladies first." She thanks you and as she walks through the door makes eye contact with a very beautiful, same age-ish as you, totally your type girl who yells "Mom over here." Daughter (or sister or mother or whoever it may be) walks over to you and her mother and the rest could be history. Don't knock it. You really never know when your gonna meet Mrs Foreverafter. It could be that very moment and if you hadn't held the door you would have walk past the perfect woman, never having a chance to strike up a conversation, never even knowing you missed out big time.
This is also an extremely affective way to make your wife or girlfriend a very happy camper. I don't think men really understand what a small jester of thoughtfulness can do for the mother of their children. OK, maybe some do, but I'd say the percentage is small. It doesn't take much. When you know she pulled in the driveway with grocery, get your ass up and run out there and help her bring them in. Switch the laundry if your near the machine. Call on the way home from work and see if she needs anything from the store. You'll increase your chances of getting laid 10 fold.
So back to me teaching my boys to treat woman like the wonderful, amazing beings that they are. I'm home a lot with my kids. Going shopping or running errands with small boys is not a ton of fun. So since the twins don't go to school yet and socialize around other girls, they are stuck with Mom being 'the girl'. If we pass each other and one of us needs to move to the side I say "Can Momma go first please. Remember 'ladies first.'" If we are getting ready to leave the house I've taught the boys to stand to the side of the stairs so Mom can go down them first. (This actually has a few reasons I do it. Manners yes, but it also allows me to beat them to the car and get their doors open so they can climb in with out getting distracted and running off into the yard or road.) I always say ladies first please. So today as we were leaving the house My son Bodhi stood to the side and said proudly Ladies and Mommies first!" By the time he is grown maybe he will understand that Mommy is a lady too.
