On an unschooling board recently there was a discussion about how to deal with children hitting a parent. The advice given was to loudly say "NO!" and stop them. One of the posters said "How would you react if a friend hit you?"
Which of course made me immediately jump to the whole "I'm going to hit my child to teach them not to hit." Besides that being an absolutely ridiculous argument, when you pare it down to the bare bones, that adults think that they have the right to hit children... It's amazing this freedom that most cultures around the world feel about how they're allowed to treat children as opposed to adults. And then we're surprised when the world can't find peace.
Great article. I let my kids put away toys they don't want to share before play dates for exactly the reason shared in the Garage bit. As adults, we tend to share very few of our belongings, yet we begrudge our children a few special toys?
i read this when it was first published. made me think of a teacher on my children had. she was a screamer. i couldn't stand it any longer and went to see her one day. i said, "how long would you remain in your job if you were a nurse and you screamed at your patients, how long would you last if you were a grocery clerk and screamed at your customers, telling them how disappointed you were in them, how upsetting it was for you to be near them? why do you think you can scream at children? are they not people to you?" probably not the brightest or most mature thing i ever did but i couldn't stand it, i truly wanted her to feel bad.
Wow - I've been thinking about this kind of thing for a day or two. I rmember reading Jan Hunt, I think it was, who said something along the lines of - If your partner spilled his drink at the table would you slap him? Or if you left your umberella somewhere, would he yell in your face about how careless you were? Thanks again Sunnymama. xxx
Both entertaining, and thought provoking. My kind of funny!
I read an article along the lines of this, but about public school. I don't have it anymore, but it was such a good read! I will have to try to track that down.
Wow. How interesting to think of this from the other side.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this. I'm always trying to see things from my childrens point of view.
ReplyDeleteOn an unschooling board recently there was a discussion about how to deal with children hitting a parent. The advice given was to loudly say "NO!" and stop them. One of the posters said "How would you react if a friend hit you?"
ReplyDeleteWhich of course made me immediately jump to the whole "I'm going to hit my child to teach them not to hit." Besides that being an absolutely ridiculous argument, when you pare it down to the bare bones, that adults think that they have the right to hit children... It's amazing this freedom that most cultures around the world feel about how they're allowed to treat children as opposed to adults. And then we're surprised when the world can't find peace.
So true - great thoughts!
ReplyDeleteGreat article. I let my kids put away toys they don't want to share before play dates for exactly the reason shared in the Garage bit. As adults, we tend to share very few of our belongings, yet we begrudge our children a few special toys?
ReplyDeletei read this when it was first published. made me think of a teacher on my children had. she was a screamer. i couldn't stand it any longer and went to see her one day. i said, "how long would you remain in your job if you were a nurse and you screamed at your patients, how long would you last if you were a grocery clerk and screamed at your customers, telling them how disappointed you were in them, how upsetting it was for you to be near them? why do you think you can scream at children? are they not people to you?" probably not the brightest or most mature thing i ever did but i couldn't stand it, i truly wanted her to feel bad.
ReplyDeleteWow - I've been thinking about this kind of thing for a day or two. I rmember reading Jan Hunt, I think it was, who said something along the lines of - If your partner spilled his drink at the table would you slap him? Or if you left your umberella somewhere, would he yell in your face about how careless you were? Thanks again Sunnymama. xxx
ReplyDeleteWow! Great post.
ReplyDeleteI love your choices for Conscious Friday! Really insightful and thought provoking. Thanks for joining in weekly in raising awareness.
One Love.
Great read!
ReplyDeleteBoth entertaining, and thought provoking. My kind of funny!
I read an article along the lines of this, but about public school. I don't have it anymore, but it was such a good read! I will have to try to track that down.
that is a great article. thanks!
ReplyDelete