I'm with you guys - manners cost absolutely nothing!
People always comment on how polite my children are and I beam with pride but on the other hand, why shouldn't they be? I'm trying my hardest to raise them with good morals and manners as many of my friends are with their children, but when people stop me in the street (and they've done it many times including abroad) you'd think nobody taught their children anything anymore.
I also hate (I'm off on one now - bee in my bonnet !) how people stereo-type. Because I was very young when I had my first, then had more in quick succession people assume I was young, naive, un-educated, single mum on the dole and aspired to nothing. Well I'm telling all those people, yes I was young but I'm not stupid, I had a private education, nor am I a single mum and don't get any state hand outs! I reckon I'm doing better than a lot of "older" mums so there!