Today is the day to have a lamb chop.

Mrs. Zulkey.com Is Still Alive!

Dear Mrs. Zulkey.com,

I recently dated a young man with horrendous, atrocious table manners -- slurping soup, face down in the soup bowl (damn near), no napkin in the lap, elbows on the table, eating the last of something before offering it to the other diners, eating with his hands things that weren't meant to be hand-held, even using serving pieces as his personal flatware! It got so bad I refused to dine with him, and eventually stopped taking his calls.

Now, in my family, we are sticklers for table manners (so I'm can be rather stringent and uptight in my compliance and expectations) and I realize this is one facet of society that has widely been kicked under the (dining room) table; however, good table manners are still really important to me. Is it appropriate to correct someone's table manners if you are dating them, or should you just let it go and wait for one who already knows it's never appropriate to stick the shrimp fried rice serving spoon directly in your mouth...especially before I've even had the opportunity to serve myself?

Signed,

Wanna Smack You Up for Smacking

Dear Picky Eater,

We all have our deal breakers. They may be rational or irrational. And they may, in fact, add up to quite a list-ful. While we are looking for our soul mates, we might discriminate on quite a range of bases: religious affiliation, political leaning, arrest record, hygiene, pet preferences, et al., yet remain indifferent on others. You obviously, and understandably, have no tolerance for sloppy, inconsiderate table manners. Since it's still true, I presume, that one tries to make a good impression, particularly during the early stages of dating, what you observed was the best of him. With that in mind you were lucky to have had a chance to short circuit this relationship so early in the game, thereby freeing you up to meet more eligible companions.

Now, your excellent upbringing provided you with the right instincts. You and I both know that it is impolite to correct a young man's bad manners. That's his mother's job.

Mrs. Zulkey

My mom can give you advice on just about anything a mom can give advice on. Got a question? Send it in.