So what is etiquette? It’s the art of knowing how to conduct ones self in any given situation with confidence. It’s being comfortable with yourself and making others feel at ease. Simply put, etiquette implies good manners, proper social graces, table etiquette and treating others with kindness and respect.

While it may appear as though the confident, polished types were born with a natural gift, their behavior is actually a learned skill. This means anyone can learn the skills of etiquette with proper guidance.

When parents model a lifestyle of good manners, their children will practice what they learn at home and in public. Whether you realize it or not, the lifestyle ones lives in the privacy of home effects your work place, your neighborhood, community and other areas of your life.

When you invest in others, your investing in yourself.

Dear Jerrie: I’m so glad your doing the column on etiquette. Thank you, again and again! My question is: How do you eat soup without the drip at the bottom of the spoon? I heard you mention this when you taught at Howard College a few years ago. But my memory fails me. Please advise — Thanks, Candie.

Hello Candie: I do recall talking about eating soup without the drip. The correct way one should eat soup to avoid the drip on the bottom of the spoon is, “When you have dipped your spoon into the soup, you take the spoon back toward the edge of the bowl and lightly allow the bottom of the spoon to touch the rim of the bowl.” This allows the drip to fall back into the bowl, and presto, no drip! — Happy dinning.

Dear Jerrie: I’m so glad to see your column on good manners in the Herald. I have two daughters, age 15 and 13. I want them to know all the things I did not know about etiquette when I was growing up. My question is about tooth picks. I see people picking their teeth after meals in restaurants. This seems to be inappropriate to me. Is it ever appropriate to use a tooth pick, and if so, when? Thank you, BJ

Hello BJ: It is never appropriate to pick you teeth in a public place. It is the essence of rudeness to do so. If one must, then he or she should excuse themselves from the table and go to the lounge or wait until they are in the privacy of their car. But then it should be done in respect to others who may be with you. Often we see men and their wives when paying their ticket at the register picking their teeth. This seems to be the norm in smaller towns and family style restaurants. It’s less prevalent in metropolitan areas where there are more formal and upscale restaurants. Picking your teeth should be private.

Jerrie Stocks has for a number of years conducted classes on etiquette in public and private schools, colleges, churches and ladies’ groups, as well as providing private tutoring and conducting workshops. E-mail your questions concerning etiquette to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it