I recently attended a homeschool convention in Greenville, South Carolina and had the pleasure of meeting Monica Irvine who is the founder and president of The Etiquette Factory. I have written about the importance of teaching our children etiquette before. Since I love to feature others who are doing impactful things for our children, I wanted to share Monica’s information and tell you a bit about The Etiquette Factory.
On the website www.theetiquettefactory.com, Monica shares how her love for etiquette began and why she is so passionate about sharing it. When she was homeschooling her son many years ago, she came across a document titled "George Washington's Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior." It was a list of 110 rules that President Washington had copied out of a French book so that he could learn and practice chivalry skills.
In Monica’s own words, she describes what motivated her to create her company:
As I read these precious rules, something pricked my heart and I was so drawn to them. I saw the great beauty in each one and thought to myself, What if I had my son memorize these rules? Surely, that would benefit him in many ways. I could imagine that if our society truly lived by these simple 110 chivalry rules, our world would be such a more kind and more generous place to be. We began to do just that, learn these rules, but while we were learning them, a new idea flooded my mind.
Monica also states: “Sometimes, God steps in and just takes you by the hand and leads you down a path where you can use your talents and your gifts to bless His other children. I believe with all my heart that that is exactly what He has done with me.”
I love the definition that Monica has for etiquette – it is helping those around you to feel valued and comfortable. I would add that it is also helping others to feel appreciated and respected. Importantly, it helps us to achieve the second greatest commandment given to us by Jesus: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:39 NLT
She has created workbooks and videos centered primarily around parents teaching their children etiquette, which are “life-changing skills, including the skills of kindness.” Please visit her website where she offers a variety of programs and curricula for parents as well as other educators and professionals.