We were having breakfast this morning at a local restaurant, talking about -- what else? -- good and bad habits.

I remarked that everyone has bad habits to work on, even me.

My seven year-old said, "The only bad habit you have is that you're obsessed with etiquette!"

We laughed, but he had a point. Aside from running an etiquette training & certification company, I am constantly trying to reinforce good habits in my children. I don't think I do this to an extreme, no more than most caring parents. However, to a seven year-old, I can see how constant reminders about using a napkins and how to hold a fork might come across as obsessed.

At the same time, I have to admit it: I am passionate about etiquette. I love training children, teens, and adults the rules of civil society. I love training others who are passionate about etiquette to become successful etiquette trainers in their communities. I love speaking about etiquette, writing about etiquette, and finding new and fun ways to make etiquette engaging and enjoyable to learn.

After the conversation, my husband and I coined a new term based on my son's comment: Etiquette Obsessive Disorder (EOD).

Do you have this condition? If so, congratulations! It means you care about good manners, habits, civility, and respect in society. You also care about giving kids a solid foundation so that they function more effectively in society. You care about the success of the kids in your community. And you care about having a world where people are warm, welcoming, and kind in spirit.

So this is one condition to be happy about having...up to a limit. Some people have extreme cases of EOD, and that's not necessarily healthy. If you are so focused on the rules of etiquette that you constantly correct other people -- unless you happen to be their parent, or you are running an etiquette training program and being paid to do so -- then you are going overboard; in fact, you are being rude.  If you judge people, publicly or under your breath, about minor details of etiquette protocol, then perhaps you are not showing the best etiquette yourself.

But if you have a healthy case of Etiquette Obsessive Disorder, then you might make a wonderful Etiquette Trainer. They say that our perfect career is often right in front of our faces. If etiquette, manners, warmth, and civility are things you think about often, then join any of our Etiquette Certification programs at Etiquette Moms. You'll find yourself in good company!