Ok- so I promised a little book review and here it is. The book is an updated version of the older love and logic books but still teaches the same things. I think it is the same book with added tips and sections to include some of todays struggles like internet pornography and the like. So far (36 pages in) the book has discussed some different parenting styles: helicopter, drill sargeant, lassez faire and consultant. The first three are unsuccessful types and the last is the love and logic style. I am a helicopter parent. It is really hard for me to watch walker hurt of struggle. I don't let him learn anything because I take his learning opportunities away from him by bailing him out. I really like the points they bring up about this type of parenting.
The consultant parent is one who gives their children choices, following up with reasonable circumstances. Somtimes, the best way children learn is by letting them fail. Like when they forget a homework assignment you reminded them to get ten times- let them suffer the consequences so they learn NOT to forget the assignment again.
I love the idea of giving kids choices- actually doing it is another thing. It is hard up front to watch kids struggle when you can step in and solve everything right away. If they don't learn when they are young though, they will learn later and the consequences are much steeper. For example, in the book it tells of a mother who lets her kids take out loans. She handles the loans just as if she were the bank, teaching her kids about the financial world. Promissory notes, collaterol and repossession- the whole deal. The story says she had to repo a $79 stereo from her 12year old son and was getting some flack for doing it. She responded," the neighbor boy had his 4900 dollar camaro repossessed this fall because he never learned the lesson my 12 year old just did. My boy is 12 years ahead and only lost a 79 dollar cd player."
Something to really think about.
jen
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