OK so this is pretty cool.....( I got it from Mother Cusser) Let them live NOW. 1. Are they 3rd grade and up? Let them ride their bikes around the neighborhood – without it being a “family bike ride.” Tell them “be home by 3pm.” Expect them home by then. 2. Stop putting lawn chairs out and watching them play Foursquare in the street. Remember growing up and yelling “CAR!”? They can do that too. Only do the chair thing if you are with friends and having beers. 3. Are you making school lunches for your little babies? Stop it. If a kid is in kindergarten – they can make a sandwich. 4. Are they using legos? Building cool ships and cities? Then they can fold their own damn laundry. And put it away. They can also pack their backpacks. They can put groceries away too! 5. Let them walk the dog without you. 6. If they come to you with a popsicle and cannot open it – do NOT open it. Tell them to figure it out. 7. Instead of specifically instructing – do this, then do this, then do this – say “I don’t know. What do you think you should do?” Mean it. 8. Let natural consequences be their guide. You don’t brush your teeth long enough? Guess who’s getting drilled at the next dentist appt? 9. Don’t hide from the Miley Cyrus story. If it presents itself – don’t tell them what to think. ASK THEM. Ask them to share with you what they feel. What they take away from it is a way to help guide their personal decisions in the future. 10. Raise your expectations on behavior and responsibility. Expect more. You will get more. And believe me – I know it’s a pain to let a kid make a mess when he makes his lunch. I know that it’s easier for me to do it. But what’s the price? I’m not perfect. I don’t always do it right. But I am so tired of seeing parents “wussify” their kids. But maybe I should keep my mouth shut – let you keep your kids afraid of their own shadows. Because that means my kids will take over the world.
Posted on: Wed, 18 Sep 2013 19:08:20 +0000
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