Comments on: Parenting Advice

By: MD in Philly

MD in Philly — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:50:06 +0000

Did you ever hear of the preacher who said, “Once I had no kids and 4 principles of good parenting, now I have 4 kids and no principles”.

A child is a child and needs guidance and instruction, but guidance and instruction does not mean being a stiff taskmaster. At times we’ve erred in either direction, but our two oldest (thankfully) have followed some pointers from Mark Twain, who was surprised, when he hit 21, how much smarter his dad had become.

Mom and dad being a good team is very important, IMHO, and it’s easier to know what is the wrong thing to do than the right. I think having raised children to adulthood ought to be an additional requirement for the presidency. Just think who that would have eliminated in the last 30 yrs!!

By: Koloth

Koloth — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:05:06 +0000

Some weak earthling spewed:

Klingon is not a language.

Dar quK d’schock-Bet. Cho’ i chU!

By: The proud daddy Dana

The proud daddy Dana — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:00:34 +0000

We’re sort of half-way between structured and winging it, but so far, they seem to have turned out alright.

By: DRJ

DRJ — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:29:30 +0000

You should consider reading the Cesar Millan links, David. You sound a lot like him.

By: David Krishan

David Krishan — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:16:27 +0000

You lack a fourth option – namely, “I provide a strong, stable leadership and guidance to my child, and apply discipline and rewards frequently as their performance and behavior merit.”

The two options other than “winging it” are soft-headed newage crap, and you don’t provide an option that won’t turn kids into beta pushovers.

By: Gesundheit

Gesundheit — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:59:14 +0000

Heh, thanks for that BarSinister. A good friend of mine taught his little kids that those irritating Japanese Beetles are called Democrats. You should have seen the reaction when one them said, at church, “Look, Dad. A Democrat!” (Good thing he didn’t follow that with, “I’ll kill it.”)

Personally, we raised our kids with good structure, but with some areas where they had freedom to try their own things, and freedom to fail and learn consequences. Now the youngest (of 4) is off to college and we’re proud of how every one of them has turned out.

By: BarSinister

BarSinister — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:28:27 +0000

When your children grow up to achieve successful and happy lives, take full credit. If they become druggies, democrats or other losers, blame evil companions.

By: nk

nk — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:19:08 +0000

Of making books there is no end and much study is a weariness of the flesh;
…
In much wisdom there is much frustration and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

By: JEA

JEA — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:59:50 +0000

“My adopted Korean child never learned Korean.”

Kind of a shame to lose that. When my dad & mom took in our cousin as a kid, he lost his Spanish too.

By: mojo

mojo — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:01:22 +0000

“Carries a baseball bat and gets good results.”