Printer-Friendly Email this Story Post a Comment (2)

Who's the parent?

TUESDAY, JULY 31 2007

I know that each parent has their own parenting-style. There is no right or wrong, just different trial-and-error techniques that hopefully won’t completely mess up a child when they are older.

My oldest child is 3-years-old, so my husband and I are trying to figure out what exactly we are supposed to be doing to instill safe, healthy habits so we have set certain rules (probably a total of four not having to do with sharing toys, not hitting, etc.)

Rule #1 – You drink milk at dinner, no juice, no tea, no chocolate milk, just ‘moo-juice’.

Rule #2 – No eating in the living room.

Rule #3 – Don’t go on the deck without shoes or sandals or you will get splinters (we have to redo our deck, so if anyone wants to contribute to a ‘No Splinters Deck fund, send in the dough!)

Rule #4 – Hold someone’s hand while crossing the street.

Rule #5 – Don’t put anything over your head or around your neck! (Or your brother’s)

So, basic rules right? Does my son listen to them, for the most part he does. Do Mike and I? Not so much, and we have gotten called out on it many times.

I had to throw some trash out and stepped two steps onto the deck and I heard, “Awhhh! Mommy, you don’t have shoes on and you went out on the deck!”

Or, the time I needed to run to the store, but had to get the kids fed first. I gave my son juice at dinner because we didn’t have milk. “No mommy, we drink milk at dinner!”

And the list goes on.

We set the rules for him to follow and you never really notice how confusing it must be for a child when the parents don’t follow the rules.

There are some that I can get away with, such as drinking coffee and soda, because he knows that when he gets ‘old’ like me, he can partake in the unhealthy drinks, but for now it’s healthy, healthy, healthy.

And Mommy and Daddy stay up later because that is when we do the not so fun things like cleaning and working.

But like I said, it is a trial and error process and we are doing the best we can. Ask me in 15 years if it was right!

I like those rules. But it's REALLY hard when you don't know other family's rules. I think my nephew loves spending time with me because I don't know my sister's and brother-in-law's rules! The aunt gets to be the "fun" one, cause I leave at the end of the day!
Anne

Posted by S_Akeisman

Report Offensive Content

My kids are older, but we have a no-soda rule that they have come to accept, if not love.
Other rules include:
-- No lying (Mommy is a little rabid when it comes to this one)
-- Say please and thank you
-- No playing soccer (or football ... or baseball ... or anything, for that matter, that involves a ball) in the house.
Robin

Posted by rearl

Report Offensive Content

You must be logged in to post a comment.