From ‘Bro’ to Ballroom: Manners Expert Rebooting Respect One Child at a Time

Nothing sparks a pang of parental shock like being called “bro” for the first time by your once adoring child — especially while delivered through a masticated chicken tender, elbows planted on the dinner table.

Grayson and Kylee, you realize, have abruptly gone from fawning to feral. And they’re not alone.

The etiquette business, Modern E Manners founder Dr. Erica Manger Hamburger will tell you, is a growth industry. With adolescent brains deep-fried by the internet and interpersonal skills nearly extinct, parents are turning to etiquette experts to help prepare their children for the crucial nuances of adult interaction.

“It’s obviously a major issue for parents right now,” the manners maven told The Citizen. “We see it every day — the lack of comfort in social situations, not knowing how to handle themselves. These become critical skills later in life. We want to instill their importance early, because after a certain point, habits are hard to reverse.”

Cotillion for the TikTok Generation

Hamburger, a New Orleans native, has a background that prizes both Southern charm and international polish. Her husband’s father was a European ambassador, and his family frequently hosted high-ranking diplomats for receptions and meals in their home. 

Hamburger, a doctor,  blends those sensibilities in her etiquette classes, which aim to modernize manners without sterilizing personality.

One of her programs, serving grades 2 through 12,  includes five Sunday classes culminating in a formal ball hosted at the St. Johns Country Club. The deadline for enrollment is June 1st. 

Students learn essential social graces: how to make a proper introduction, maintain eye contact and dress for the occasion.

“We start with the basics, because that’s where true confidence begins,” she said. “First impressions, posture, eye contact—these aren’t superficial. They’re foundational. When a child knows how to walk into a room, introduce themselves and hold a conversation, that’s empowerment.”

While etiquette may conjure images of stiff curtsies and cutlery placement, Hamburger insists it’s really about connection. “We’re not creating robots. We’re creating thoughtful, respectful, socially competent young adults.”

She also offers a Teen Etiquette Dinner and a British High Tea, both of which are single-day programs. Enrollment closes on July 1.

Introverts, Phones and the Disappearing Art of Conversation

Hamburger emphasizes that social fluency isn’t reserved for extroverts. “We teach our introverts how to shine as introverts. You don’t have to be the loudest in the room. But you do need to be able to read a room, navigate it, and contribute meaningfully.”

Her classes also address the elephant in everyone’s pocket: the phone. Kids, she said, are being raised as much by algorithms as adults in 2025.

“The digital world gives a false sense of community,” she said. “We’ve become more connected online and more disconnected in person. And that’s creating real loneliness.”

According to Hamburger, today’s kids are overstimulated and underdeveloped in key emotional areas. Constant exposure to digital dopamine—from apps, games and social media—has weakened impulse control and diminished empathy.

“Children aren’t learning how to sit with discomfort or boredom anymore. But boredom is good. It’s where curiosity is born. Without it, they don’t learn to observe or ask questions.”

That tech-fueled detachment extends to parents as well. “We hear kids ask, ‘How do I get my dad to put his phone down at dinner?’ They want connection. It has to go both ways.”

Manners as a Modern Advantage

In a culture where peer dynamics often revolve around performance and appearance, Hamburger believes social intelligence is the true differentiator that carries the day in the end.

“You can be a straight-A student, a star athlete, but if you can’t look someone in the eye, show interest in what they’re saying and speak respectfully, you won’t stand out in the long run,” she said. “We’re not raising performers. We’re raising confident, kind world changers.”

“Manners,” she said, “are the new flex.”

In her programs, slides and sweats won’t cut it. “Clothing influences how kids carry themselves; it’s a reflection of how they feel. Dressing nicely elevates confidence. It’s a form of self-respect—and it communicates something to the world.”

Texting etiquette, tone of voice and digital boundaries are also key lessons. “We teach them not to use slang with adults, how to begin and end texts properly, and that there’s a difference between texting a friend and emailing a teacher or coach.”

Brokenness Beneath the Surface

Hamburger says the need for this work often runs deeper than parents realize. “When we talk to older girls about self-love and affirmation, some of them cry. Many of these kids have been bullied or body-shamed. They’ve called others names because they’re insecure themselves.”

Even among children who are kind at heart, there’s often anger bubbling. She shared a story that was told to her about a teen speeding on an e-bike. A local father flagged him down out of concern—“You’re going 40, you could hurt yourself”—the boy cursed him out and sped off.

“The scariest part isn’t the speed,” she said. “It’s the total lack of accountability or respect for adults or authority.”

A Community Effort

While Hamburger works with children, she knows the broader effort begins at home. “As a parent, you can model good behavior—but your voice gets drowned out by society. We’re here to support that foundation, not replace it.”

She encourages families to bring formality back into everyday life—not as an act of snobbery, but as a signal of respect. “Respect for yourself, and for others. That’s what manners really are.”

And maybe—just maybe—it means hearing “Mom” or “Dad” at the dinner table once again, instead of “bro.”