The Blink of an Eye
Has anyone else noticed that families don't dine together anymore? I don't mean a drive-thru at McDonald's (where I actually HAVE spotted that bruised young thing at the window...guess they put him there where would-be seniors can't reach him). I mean at home, around a table, where the day's activities are actually discussed and news of the day is debated. What happened? I know it's easier sometimes to just place a plate of food in front of a child as he or she is glued to the television set, but it's just not conducive to good family life. If the current generation of young parents just knew that in the blink of an eye those six and seven year olds will be calling from college for a few extra bucks! The blink of an eye.
AND, on the subject of children and children's children, has anyone been witness to the children placed under the direction of Super Nanny, yet another reality TV show, and a quite successful one at that? One must watch to appreciate what is about to be said here, but I have some advice for the English Super Nanny. I believe all of her time-out chairs and incentive charts and points earned for good behavior plans and getting down on all fours in order to be "on their level" could all be replaced by a simple little English Walnut board, to be applied amply and often on the backside of the offending child when such child spits, uses vulgarity, hits a sibling or (unbelievably) a parent, runs away when called, etc. etc. It's difficult to watch grown men and women throw up their hands and shrug their shoulders and honestly not have a clue where they went wrong with their child-rearing skills, or lack of, while all the while their young are yelling obscenities and beating up their siblings in the background. What's wrong with this picture???
A few suggestions…no TVs in children's bedrooms, no phones and no computers either. One family computer, to be placed in a well tended area and a couple of cordless phones that may be taken to other rooms for privacy, but no private children's lines. Keep a bar of Dial soap handy for cleaning the mouth (works every time, I know from experience) and hang the English Walnut piece in plain view at all times.
And, last but not least, hide the 1-800-CRY-BABY hotline number from the kids.
Keep me posted!
Minnie O'
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Case in point...and a true story. I recall a few years ago an incident wherein a first grade child was using obsenities (and I mean REAL obsenities) on the playground. He admitted it, knew it was wrong, did it repeatedly anyway, and was punished (in school suspension & lost recesses, I believe). The father was irate, actually came to the school and in no uncertain terms informed the school staff that his child had a constitutional right to use any kind of language he liked anywhere he liked! There was no convincing him otherwise, a freedom of speech issue, he believed as he shook his finger in the face of the principal. I believe a police officer finally convinced him to leave the building. And we wonder why the kids have problems!!
I'll get off my soapbox now.
You have nailed it right on the head. How often do we hear in the aisles of Wal-mart, "I'm gonna ------." Not to promote what they are threatening, but if you're going to tell a child they will be punished for wrongful behavior and not follow through, you can expect the behaviors to continue. So, as you well-stated, consistency is the key. And another "c" also plays such a vital role. Communication. Can't be beat! Keeping those lines open, especially in the teen years. After that, THEY keep them open, ironically! And, isn't there some comfort in envisioning ole Doc Spock, as you suggested, getting a bit "toasty" and all the while trying to control the little devils running about. Nice to think that there's justice served sometimes.
Here's what happened. Wal-Mart opened with those subliminal messages, the kids got whatever they wanted, the parents started doing drugs to drown out the wailing children hearing the subliminals, they ran low on money and sense so they began dealing the drugs along with using them, they got caught, sent to the big house, kids got taken away, grandparents (who are only in their early 40's themselves), fought for custody, got custody, but they aren't allowed to punish the kids because the state really frowns on that, so the grandparents take them to Wal-Mart and get them anything they wail for. It's simple as that! And that's why we're beginning to see grandparents up on drug charges. A vicious circle.
OK, Truthy, don't tell us what you THINK we want to hear, just what you believe to be the true regarding these subjects:
First of all, What do you feel MOST guilty about (if at all) in your day to day existence?
I'm assuming there's a Mrs. Truthy about, so I'm wondering..is the same quality you found most desireable on the day of your marriage the same one you find most desireable today? If not, what is? (Endurance, perhaps!)
If there is one single thing that you believe a woman over-reacts about, what might that be?
I'm always told that men just don't think like women do, and I believe that's a good thing, but tell us in what respect you find this to be most significantly true?
OK, I. B. Profin, I mean Truth...get to work! We are all waiting with baited breath. You're going to have to earn your keep to stay within our ranks. Agree, girls?
A very astute response regarding why we think so differently, and given your answer, I realized that the question is an impossible one to answer. How in the world could you know how differently we think. The only way to determine the answer to this question might be to lay out four or five questions on a survey and compare the answers male vs. female. The differences in thinking and reasoning patterns is what makes the world go round. I was just curious as to the degree of differences, especially to reactions to certain circumstances. Someday I'll put a survey out there, but you see, we have only you to complete it!
Time for a grade on your test to remain among our elite ranks...ok, you get a B+. I've refrained from an A, because no man is perfect!! You've done well, and so it has been decided, in all my Minnie wisdom, that you may remain in our midst. Lucky you!
Men and women favor shiny things equally. Men just favor them on a larger scale...chrome, my dear, chrome.