Parenting Issues

[white trillium]

We have 3 kids: 2 boys (16 and 14) and a daughter (10). 

Years ago an ECFE (Early Childhood Family Ed) teacher passed along a few tidbits of wisdom:

1)  The only difference between a teenager and a toddler is that you can pick a toddler up.

2)  Grounding a teen is like chaining yourself to a bear to punish the bear.

I thought they were really funny, but now tend to agree...so we opt for banishment (to one of the grandparents who need some kind of hard labor completed....(they get to see the grandparents for more fun things too)) and it seems to be quite effective.

They are great kids, I love them all dearly, but...wow...somedays...

[Lady Amy of York]

OMG ... mine are 13 and 10, and one is a girl and the other one is a boy ... I have to say Gabi is an expert in the art of the skulking and pouting. And Andrea manages to manipulate her father very well. Is not working with me ... hey I wrote the book on all the tricks she's trying with me right now.

oh man Lucina, sis, could i  make  a few comments !  LOL  ! Yea, that is why mom and dad put you in the convent ! 
  Just kidding !
           
   My son is only four  so, so far so good, but i saw what my older sisters went thru  with my nieces  and  nephews when they were teenagers.  Now they are all young adults, and they call up my sisters  and say to them " You know mom, you were right all along." !

  My parents had four girls.   My dad  said that is why we always had male dogs  in the house, so that he did not feel too outvoted, although he always was !  LOL !

My mom always warned me and my sisters  and would say " What goes around, comes around."  in other words how you behaved as  achild will come back to haunt you as a parent.    Phew, i guess i will have no problems !
   

[anne of oaktower]

The one piece of advice I would give to all parents is to remember that the disappointments and the pride you experience from your children are reflective of your failure and your success as a parent.  It's an accountability thing.

EXACTLY! And...you are not only raising your children, but your grandchildren, as well!  Think about it...everything you instill in your own kids now determines (to a great extent) how your grandchildren will be raised. 

One of the biggest problems we face in society today is not that children are getting worse, but that parenting skills are often quite lacking!  (I'm referring here to those children - and we've all seen them - who are absolute terrors, and the parents just continue to give them whatever they want in order to shut them up.)

[Lady Nicolette]

Well...I have to say that I was a pretty good kid and teenager.  My mom and I had differences, but they weren't insurmountable.  So far, my son is a pretty good one, even though he doesn't want to do Faire right now.  I won't push it.  There are bigger battles that are more worth fighting if it comes to that.  I anticipate that we might not see eye to eye on everything, but that's OK.  It's just because I've got life experience that he doesn't.  I can't necessarily impart my experience on his inexperience.  I just hope he'll still choose to come to me when he needs to. 

[Tipsy Gypsy]

"Mothers of teenagers know why animals eat their young."

[Welsh Wench]

'Raising children is like being pecked to death by chickens'.

[BLAKDUKE]

someday God willing, we will all be gathered around a campfire together and I will regale, astound, and terrify you all with stories garaunteed to curl your hair......................  ALL OF THEM.

[Yrose]

I've been very lucky with my daughter until now. She's reached 19 and like alot of young adults today doesn't want to start accepting real responsibility for her life. It's too hard, too scary, and cost too much! I'm trying to help her, but mom knows nothing and is being unfair and unreasonable. I've always told her up front how everything is, but she doesn't think mom means it. It's simple go to college, pay rent or move....

[Luciana]

My mom always warned me and my sisters  and would say " What goes around, comes around."  in other words how you behaved as  achild will come back to haunt you as a parent.    Phew, i guess i will have no problems !
  

* coughing * Yea ... right! * looking forward at the next 10 years *

[FortuneRose]

My wee-one is still too tiny to share in all his treachery.  Right now I just have to worry about his naps, eating, diaper changing, cuddle time (ah, cuddle time....  I know it will end all too soon, so I'm fully enjoying my cuddle bug) and other wee-people fun.

One day, I'm sure I'll be pulling my hair out, though.