I'm not a parent yet but I can't stand bad manners either. My nephews and niece are TERRIBLE - they have no manners at all. Never say please or thankyou, eat with mouth open - it drives me nuts. I can understand that their parents get frustrated etc but my parents had no problems teaching me good manners - if they ask for something, a simple "What do you say?" to prompt the "please" and similar when given something to prompt the "thank you" - and soon it becomes routine.

I felt a bit bad the other day, but we were at the ILs and 8 yr old nephew came into the kitchen , while myself and SIL were doing dishes, and put his empty icypole wrapper on the bench (3 m away from the bin) and walked off.. I was like "XXXX - (he turns) - that doesn't go there, can you put that in the bin please? We have enough mess to clean up without you making more" He rolls eyes, says "I don't know where the bin is" (lie) - surprisingly MIL actually says "Come on, you know where the bin is" - and he put it in the bin. Mind you it's the MIL and FIL who are partly to blame for the kids behaviour as they spoil them ROTTEN (SOOOOOO not going to happen when we have kids!!!).