Comments on: Parenting – The Ultimate Test of Mental Fortitude http://realityme.net/2006/04/26/parenting-the-ultimate-test-of-mental-fortitude/ A juggling technophile shares personal stories, challenges, humor and perhaps some political commentary. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:25:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Barry http://realityme.net/2006/04/26/parenting-the-ultimate-test-of-mental-fortitude/comment-page-1/#comment-1176 Barry Wed, 26 Apr 2006 15:54:14 +0000 http://blog.siliconholler.com/2006/04/26/parenting-the-ultimate-test-of-mental-fortitude/#comment-1176 I think you're right - situations like this are begging for the deft hand of instruction, the subtle whisper of common sense and the sharp tongue of retribution if they don't remember what you're telling them. I've seen it in my kids enough - a situation arises they don't know or don't remember how to handle and the go "off the grid" briefly. We're tempted to always go off on them in fear and relief over their safety, but parents always have to remember kids can only learn from two places: us and their friends. And if they might get into a situation where they haven't learned the right course of action, it's our responsibility to recognize that and teach them. Otherwise their friends will teach them, and then who knows what will happen. Fresh clay. I think you’re right – situations like this are begging for the deft hand of instruction, the subtle whisper of common sense and the sharp tongue of retribution if they don’t remember what you’re telling them.

I’ve seen it in my kids enough – a situation arises they don’t know or don’t remember how to handle and the go “off the grid” briefly. We’re tempted to always go off on them in fear and relief over their safety, but parents always have to remember kids can only learn from two places: us and their friends. And if they might get into a situation where they haven’t learned the right course of action, it’s our responsibility to recognize that and teach them. Otherwise their friends will teach them, and then who knows what will happen.

Fresh clay.

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