Morning radio in Atlanta has gotten me through many, many mornings over the life of my career. Cheating spouses, affairs with interns, psycho ex girlfriends. Whatever the topic may be, it never lacks for entertainment and 9 times out of 10 the subject matter is so incredibly off the wall and superficial that the only reason I listen to it is because it makes my life seem petty and boring and somewhat normal, or, during particular times over the last decade, I wonder if the circumstances I am hearing about have been yanked right out of my very own Book of Jessica Brown’s Life. Either way, it gets me through rush hour traffic and goes well with my coffee.

Occasionally, the discussions veer from strippers and celebrity gossip and lean more towards everyday, real life, that-sounds-like-me issues. And while I enjoy all the BS they usually present to their Atlanta audience, it’s nice to know that these DJ’s do have significant others who golf too much, in laws they don’t necessarily “like” and daycares that pass around ear infections to their children like it’s apple juice.

As a matter of fact, just this morning I was listening to a debate about the appropriate age to start disciplining children for not using manners, forgetting their no sir’s and yes ma’am’s. Now, I should preface this by saying I am not a parent nor do I have any special skills that could make me even appear to be one. I do not have an alter-ego referred to as Miss Manners; I say things I shouldn’t say, sometimes out of line. I’ve been known a time or two to be less than polite while asking for the mashed potatoes at the dinner table. However, I’m still allowed to have an opinion and you all know I have no reservations about letting it be known so here goes, and it’s fairly simple.

Teach your kids from Day One that anything less than a ‘please’ before a request is just downright unacceptable. Make it clear that hand-outs should always be followed by a ‘thank you’. No questions asked. Unbeknown to many, this has become a dying trend in our society and that worries me – not only because I think it’s just the appropriate thing to do, but I also believe that by not teaching your children these basic values, you’re setting them up for some forms of social failure in the future. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been at my local Publix and heard ridiculous demands coming from the mouths of babes. And unfortunately for them, I have yet to run across a CEO that graciously pulls out his wallet when the dude from accounting badgers him for a raise without prefacing it with an “I would appreciate it if you would please…”

And going back to my morning commute, I’m a little confused as to why it’s even a question about the age to start disciplining your children for their lack of please and thank you’s. Make it very simple for them – without those little words, they might as well not even bother wasting their breath with their desire for a sleepover. Discipline solved. Sounds realistic to me, no? At least, to the almost-thirty-and-single-with-no-children woman it does. And when the time comes for my little curtain climbers to start practicing what I’ve been preaching and it doesn’t quite pan out like I’ve outlined here, then I’ll resort to calling a radio station to get some answers, dang-it.

You’ve heard the saying “The only substitute for good manners is fast reflexes.” I’m not quite sure who quoted this, but I’d be willing to bet her first name was Andrea, last name Brown.

See y’all next week, ya hear?! Please and thank you.