the first thing I taught my son to do was to b gracious. at about two, at his birthday, I told him before the party started to say thank you to everyone. he thanked them for the gifts and then as they left. from then on, he always said thank you to everyone, even when he left peoples houses.it never occurred to him not to say thank you.he's 23 and still does it. it shows respect. I still say thank you to him and to my dh, even if they are taking out the garbage. when we go to dinner on date night, I say thank you to my dh.