I DISAGREE with Barbara and John Pettitt that today's parents do not have the time to teach their children to say "please" and "thank you" when it is appropriate to do so (Letters, August 20).

This talk about "today's busy lives" is driving me mad.

Can we expose the myth, once and for all, that today's parents are supposed to be so much busier?

I worked full-time when my sons were young. I washed, ironed, shopped, gardened, ferried them to and from various venues, cleaned and cooked. And yes my sons have exemplary manners.

There were millions of mums such as me.

Busy lives? It's an excuse.

Mrs M Johnson,

Waterfront House,

Clementhorpe, York.

Updated: 10:24 Wednesday, August 24, 2005