Working in the education industry, one interacts a lot with parents and children. El Hubbo and I have NUMEROUS stories - some humorous, some sad, some downright ridiculous. We were both, fortunately, raised by parents who encouraged our independence. Today's child is more often coddled and protected by fierce "helicopter parents".
I have decided I want my own club. The Survival of the Fittest Child Rearing Club. To earn membership, you must demonstrate the ability to allow your children to (1)learn from failure, (2) experience the glories of dirt, and (3) earn their keep around the house.
Learning from failure may include watching your child fall down concrete steps at a softball game. If you can look at your child, quickly assess that there are no broken bones and only minimal blood, and say, "Ah, brush it off. There's no crying in softball!" and then take your turn at bat. You might be worthy of membership.
Experiencing the glories of dirt include allowing your children to sample the cat food. They will have shinier hair and will never get a hairball. Plus, they have ready accessibility to a snack whenever they want. Or, you can possibly take your 1.5 week old child to a stockshow. In the middle of January. Sliding your SUV down the highway covered in ice.
Having your children earn their keep is perhaps the most important qualification. If they are tall enough to reach the faucet, they are tall enough to assume their natural duty of washing dishes. Why did we have children if not to have someone other than ourselves to take out the trash? Isn't that what our parents told us?
There will be no socket plugs or cabinet locks in the home of any member of the club. Where is the fun in that? A little electical current can produce very pretty curls on both boys and girls. The rules for sibling fights are (1) take it outside and (2) don't break anything in the house (or, refer to rule #1) with "no blood, no harm, no foul" being enforced.
In short, there will be no namby-pamby babying of the babies. Now, if you will excuse me, I have two giggling munchkins waiting for me to snuggle them up in my bed.
I have decided I want my own club. The Survival of the Fittest Child Rearing Club. To earn membership, you must demonstrate the ability to allow your children to (1)learn from failure, (2) experience the glories of dirt, and (3) earn their keep around the house.
Learning from failure may include watching your child fall down concrete steps at a softball game. If you can look at your child, quickly assess that there are no broken bones and only minimal blood, and say, "Ah, brush it off. There's no crying in softball!" and then take your turn at bat. You might be worthy of membership.
Experiencing the glories of dirt include allowing your children to sample the cat food. They will have shinier hair and will never get a hairball. Plus, they have ready accessibility to a snack whenever they want. Or, you can possibly take your 1.5 week old child to a stockshow. In the middle of January. Sliding your SUV down the highway covered in ice.
Having your children earn their keep is perhaps the most important qualification. If they are tall enough to reach the faucet, they are tall enough to assume their natural duty of washing dishes. Why did we have children if not to have someone other than ourselves to take out the trash? Isn't that what our parents told us?
There will be no socket plugs or cabinet locks in the home of any member of the club. Where is the fun in that? A little electical current can produce very pretty curls on both boys and girls. The rules for sibling fights are (1) take it outside and (2) don't break anything in the house (or, refer to rule #1) with "no blood, no harm, no foul" being enforced.
In short, there will be no namby-pamby babying of the babies. Now, if you will excuse me, I have two giggling munchkins waiting for me to snuggle them up in my bed.
Brenda-
ReplyDeleteI love your idea of parenting. You are the parents I hope for in my classroom. Your kids will thank you one day when they can stand on their own two feet and fend for themselves. Love your blog. you are hilarious! Give Jake and Emma kiss for me