YES MA'AM: Janice Gibson, owner of Etiquette with Miss Janice, teaches young children proper manners.

For many people, today's society has become fast-paced, causing them to rush from one appointment to the next. As a result, etiquette often has fallen by the wayside. Parents don't always have the time to teach their children proper etiquette and manners.

But Janice Gibson, a certified etiquette consultant and owner of DeSoto County-based Etiquette with Miss Janice, said she believes there is always time for good manners.

Parents didn't just decide one day to stop teaching good manners, Gibson said. Rather, it's a symptom of a society that finds parents too harried and exhausted from working full time and transporting children to their many extracurricular activities.

"I don't think we intentionally set out to be rude or disrespectful," she said. "It's just that we all lead busy lives. And you get in a rush and you just don't respect others or practice proper etiquette. It's hard when you're rushing through the lunch to get to the next appointment or football game or soccer game. Everybody is so rushed that sometimes they forget about practicing etiquette and respect for others."

Prepared for the president

Etiquette with Miss Janice teaches children and adults proper etiquette through seminars and teas. Recently a small group of women participated in a social etiquette seminar and traditional afternoon tea at Bonne Terre Country Inn in Nesbit, Miss.

The women learned everything from how to conduct themselves at a formal dinner to proper social etiquette techniques.

Gibson said that after attending an event, the women and young girls should be able to feel comfortable at a formal dinner at the White House.

In addition to the teas she hosts at Bonne Terre once a month, Gibson also teaches social etiquette classes to young children and teenagers.

"We live in Mississippi and we're supposed to be the hospitality state," she said.
"People think in Mississippi that we're all sitting on the front porch drinking mint juleps and everything, but they also expect Southern hospitality from Mississippians and expect us to act like we have good manners. So, my goal is to make (DeSoto County) the most mannerly county in the state."

Gibson doesn't have her eyes set only on DeSoto Countians, though. She said she also would like to offer classes for young girls in Memphis.

"I would actually love to host classes for young girls at The Peabody," she said. "I think that would be a great place, but I wanted to start in DeSoto County first and get my name out there and see how it goes. I definitely have The Peabody on my list of wanna-be venues."

Graciousness from the start

Gibson opened her social etiquette business about a year ago. She said the idea originated while living in Palm Springs, Calif. She had the idea to open a tea room but quickly dismissed the idea, realizing it wouldn't be very profitable to sell hot tea in the middle of the desert.

"As I was researching for the tea room, etiquette kept popping up because they sort of go hand-in-hand," Gibson said. "And I just kept getting into the etiquette, so I thought I'm just going to do the etiquette program and see how that goes."

Though Gibson holds monthly teas, she said her emphasis will remain on proper etiquette and good manners because it's something she always has been interested in.

As a child, Gibson spent four years attending a school of etiquette. And about
five years ago, she attended the Protocol School of Washington, where she was certified in proper etiquette. She also studied with Sue Fox, author of "Etiquette for Dummies," and with Cindy Grosso at
the Protocol School of Charleston in Charleston, S.C.

Gibson also is a certified tea expert, a designation she earned form the Tea Association of America.

Though today's society might be more fast-paced, Gibson said Southern hospitality is alive and well.

"I don't think it's a myth," she said. "I think we just know how to entertain, we know how to do everything in the Southern style, and I like - personally and professionally - to use my Southern charm. I think people appreciate it, even in the business world."

Gibson's next class will be Nov. 3 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Bonne Terre. "Social & Dining Etiquette for Teens" will teach teens 13 to 17 how to introduce themselves to others, telephone etiquette and etiquette in public places.

Gibson also teaches "Modern Manners for Children" courses to children 8 to 12.