Cotillion for difficult child?!

[TerryJ2]

We ran into an acquaintance at the grocery store last night who teaches runs a cotillion and etiquette workshop. She got out of line at the checkout and ran right up to difficult child and said, "C, nice to meet you. How old are you? What grade are you in?" (She can scope out an 11-yr-old from the moon.)
The other day at a car dealership, he shook hands with-someone but looked away. Afterward, I told him he was supposed to look the person in the eye at the same time he was shaking hands. difficult child said, "Why?"
"Because it's good manners, and it makes the other person feel important."
So when this person talked to him at the store, I reminded him of that handshaking incident and said that's the sort of thing she teaches.
Then she made it worse, LOL. "Oh, then we have the really fun parts--dancing."
I know difficult child was thinking Hip Hop, but she said, "Salsa, box step, all that fun stuff."
He looked like he wanted to crawl into a hole.
I said, "I'd have to bribe you with-a lot of wrestling magazines for that, wouldn't I?"
As we walked away, he said, "Would you really get me a bunch of wrestling magazines if I did Cotillion?"
"Sure!"
"Okay."

He has NO idea what he's in for this September, LOL.

:crazy1:

 

[1 Day At a Time]

Terry,

I highly recommend Cotillion if difficult child is willing to participate. Our easy child , who has ADHD, but really is easy child in comparison to difficult child ,participated in Cotillion for 3 years. He's your typical ADHD wildman, but for some reason Cotillion really clicked with him. He was visiting us last week and quoted things he had learned from Cotillion on several occasions. husband and I were laughing about a comic strip that showed a guy putting a call on hold to take another call and the discussion he had with his Mom about the process. easy child said, "we were taught in Cotillion to put our current call on hold, answer the other call and tell the second call we would call them back upon the completion of our first call". I was really surprised that he remembered this gem

The dancing skills he learned have really the most helpful - interestingly enough. easy child really took to the dancing. He was in high demand throughout high school to dance with girls who wanted to do "real dancing". Most recently his girlfriend , who is from New Orleans , has had a number of formal dances to attend. easy child knows how to wear the tuxedo and dance all of the dances - thus he is the perfect escort. All the Moms want to dance with him ... LOL...

I really had no idea years ago that those weekly lessons would pay off in such a big way!

 

[LittleDudesMom]

Terry,

that's pretty funny! My easy child loved cotillon but difficult child said "no way!!!" Not like I was expecting yes......... The boys drop out sooner than the girls. In 6th grade (in easy child's small private school) every boy but one did cotillon. In 7th, half had stopped, and by eight grade there were only 2!

Not sure about your area, but it was pretty expensive here - with no refund. Better make sure he will really stick to it before you dole out the cash and the clothes!

Sharon

 

[TerryJ2]

I know, I can only imagine how much it costs. But to get someone else to tell him what I've been telling him all along is worth the price. You know how that goes.
As far as the dancing, I know he will be in great demand. He'll get that part later.

 

[DammitJanet]

Oh the memories! I did cotillion back in 6th or 7th grade too. Step step cha cha cha...lol. Every time Dancing with stars comes on I just sigh. I have two left feet and when they passed out rhythm I must have been in the bathroom but still love watching people dance well.

 

[witzend]

We don't have anything like that here. Us Northerners are just so unsophisticated! I think it will be a really good opportunity for him to learn some basic manners.

 

[Christy]

I have often thought about finding an ettiquette class for difficult child. I wonder if they have such a thing around where we live? hmmm, I think I will do a search.

 

[Nomad]

Our difficult child went to Cotillion and actually did rather well. Sadly, on the last day for the father-daughter dance, she got very sick and could not go. We also signed her up for a make-up calss at the community college. That went well too. However, real life stuff...not so much.

 

[Big Bad Kitty]

Girl, I read your post as COALITION.

Then wondered why none of the posts were making any sense.

 

[flutterbee]

BBK - I did the same thing. In fact, even though I know now it's 'cotillion' I still read it as coalition. Guess us northern folk aren't as sophisticated.

But, then again, I couldn't figure out why amazeofgrace's kids were going to BE outlaws. So, maybe it's just me.

Count me as another that didn't know people still did this for real. If you can bribe him into doing it (even if it's just so he can save face with his friends), I'd do it. It will open up another world for him.

 

[MyFriendKita]

But, then again, I couldn't figure out why amazeofgrace's kids were going to BE outlaws. So, maybe it's just me.

I thought the same thing (I eventually figured out they were going TO THE outlaws), but it seemed to me most difficult child's would see being an outlaw as a dream career, so I didn't think it was odd.

 

[TerryJ2]

LOL.
Yup. I'm into bribery for this "coalition."

 

[Wiped Out]

Sounds like it would be a great experience. I've never heard of it before!