Parenting: good or bad?
So, I noticed a trend. Whenever I left the room for any reason and the kids were left alone, The Second would start crying. Without fail. Every time. It was obvious that Junior was doing something to make him cry, like take a toy or just generally be mean. So, I explained to Junior that if I left the room again and The Second started crying that she’d be the one in trouble. Hasn’t happened since.
I guess maybe it could be unfair as, you know, I can’t prove in a court of law she was up to something. And I suppose he could start crying for other reasons but so far that doesn’t seem to be the case.
September 18th, 2007 at 8:44 am
Thankfully, good parenting doesn’t require due process, hard evidence or proof beyond a reasonable doubt. In fact, I think those elements would prevent good parenting.
September 18th, 2007 at 9:04 am
I take it that you explained that to Junior out of the hearing of 2nd. W/ mine, if one had heard that, he/she would start crying just to get the other in trouble.
September 18th, 2007 at 9:27 am
As a follow-up to your discovery of the “Law of Sibling Responsibility” (as it is called in my house) may I suggest that when the inevitable infraction occurs, you explain to Junior that he caused the upset sibling, it is up to him to fix the upset sibling – while you watch. This will cause the two kids to learn conflict resolution, as well as make clear to Junior that there are consequences to bad behavior. And you have to watch to make sure the “fix” is not a threat of reprisal.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:04 am
Well, The Second is about 17 months old. When I explain something to him he responds with dadada burbur momom.
And junior is a girl.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:27 am
I never know 100% whether I’m doing the right thing with my daughter regardless of whether I’m buying her the Barbie she saw another kid have or scolding her because she did a cartwheel that almost knocked a framed picture down on her head. Just hang in there and remember all this and feel kindlier towards your son-in-law after she marries.
September 18th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
You could get one of those security cameras to watch what happens while you’re away…