Got a laugh at the mall today

[Ed62]

To everybody compaining about the lack of discipline in parenting these days, keep something in mind. When I was a kid in the 70's, nobody would have thought twice if my mom smacked me in a store for misbehaving. Today, parents are lucky to not get arrested for doing the same thing.

That's true, but there's more than one way to skin a cat. The day before yesterday, one of my sons came over with his two kids. My wife was getting ready to make supper, so she asked them to stay. We had just started eating when the two kids decided to start play fighting at the table. My wife told them to quit. Naturally, they just kept it up. So she grabbed one by the arm, and told both of them to get down from the table. They didn't eat. But our son remembers when he was a little kid. They didn't get away with it, and neither will the grandkids. It's funny how fast they learn what they can and can't do when they're at Grandma and Grandpa's.

Ed

[ejs1097]

I have to admit, that's pretty funny. I could see that on AFV or something.

That said, you wouldn't catch my kids doing that!

'Time outs' or whatever you want to call them is an effective punishment tool for age appropiate kids and if done with consistancy. When 'timeouts' are mocked it sounds like spanking is what is preferred. I would disagree. The key is finding what the kids don't like and do that, and reward proper behavior..and consistantly.

[MilDoc]

Biggest problems I see with parents today? Lack of consistency - different responses to the same sort of infraction - kid doesn't know what to expect so why not? And - way too many "warnings" - kids figure out fast, usually by the tone of your voice, when to stop, and if they know they can get away with the behavior 3-4-5-6-or more times - why not? And, believe it or not, "But if I do that he/she won't like me!" My response - maybe not right now, but later and forever he/she will - be a parent first and a friend later, or live to regret it.

[Ed62]

"But if I do that he/she won't like me!" My response - maybe not right now, but later and forever he/she will - be a parent first and a friend later, or live to regret it.

Spoken by what appears to be a man with experience. That's one thing us old men have, if nothing else.

Ed

[DaveS]

We have two boys - ages 5 and 7 - and they keep us on our toes.

We read the book "Parenting with Love and Logic" by Foster Cline and Jim Fay. I feel every parent or grandparent should read this book.

All the techniques are not for everyone, or for every kid - but they make a lot of sense, and have revolutionized the way we parent our kids. It helps that the local grade schools have started to implement the same techniques.

I highly, highly recommend it.

I will say these few things in defense of "today's parents":

(1) bad parents are a constant - there were bad parents 100 years ago, there will be bad parents 100 years from now (assuming humans are still around )

(2) it is easy to notice the one rotten kid at the mall and say "kids these days" while not noticing the 100 other kids around him that are well behaved

(3) the world is a very different place compared to 30 years ago - parenting is different as a result. Things that worked 30 years ago may not work today.