Thursday again! Time to do a little "pondering" with Brenda
from Fiction With a Purpose.
Her rules are really easy:
1. Grab the Pondering with a Purpose Badge (in her sidebar)
2. Look at the week's prompt
3. Post something on your blog that relates to the prompt - it can be a
story, a poem, a picture -- anything you want it to be.
4. Go back here and add the URL from your post to the linky list on Brenda's.
5. Go check out the other bloggers who have added their links to the list.
6. AND most of all.... Have fun!
The most "major" thing I can think of that I had to deal with from my kids was the time my son got caught doing 105 mph - on Christmas Eve - coming from his dad's and trying to get to work on time. The good thing was that he passed the cop, knew he was caught and just pulled over and waited for him. I called the States Atty to find out if he was going to lose his license. Somehow, by just calling, when we got to court, they counted it as a "arranged" sentence. He got court supervision, a hefty fine, and the judge reamed him for a good 15 minutes. I'll never forget watching him stand there shaking with his eyes downcast. I did NOT help him pay the fine, he had to arrange a payment plan. It taught him a lesson that I don't think he's ever forgotten. I think sometimes you have to let your kids deal with the consequences of what they do. While I did call the States Atty, I did not do it to try and get him off - just needed to plan on how to get him to and from school and work if he had no license. I was surprised that they counted that one phone call as an arrangement.
Like I said, that was the worst - but there were lots of other instances that called for punishment as they both grew up. I yelled a lot, cried sometimes, took away privileges.... you name it. As they got older, reasoning seemed to work well with both of them.
Now as far as pets go - please - how can you punish an animal when they look up at you with big brown eyes?
never could do the tough love thing--glad it all worked out :)
ReplyDelete105??? Seriously lukcy he didn't lose his license and I bet that fine was HEFTY!!!!
ReplyDeletePunishment for children is such a difficult thing... how much? how little? Will they learn? I tried to let me kids learn from their mistakes... I suppose time will tell if I did it correctly.
AND those big sad eyes??? Seriously? How do people hit animals???? I had to literally turn around so they wouldn't see me laughing last night... I doubt if it worked seeing as how Trixy then marched right up to me with a piece of the box in her mouth!
Have a great day and thanks for pondering with me.
Tough love works well. Sometimes, I think as parents we don't let our children face the consequences of their mistakes enough. Nice job on the post.
ReplyDeleteGood for you! I'd have done the same thing in your shoes. My daughter was just the passenger in the speeding vehicle, but we threw the book at her. And laid a load of guilt on her about how did she think we'd feel if the police had been calling to tell us something much different.
ReplyDeleteHi -- I am your newest follower...your post was very interesting...sounds like we have similar parenting philosophies. None of my four children even got in trouble with the law (that I know of), but my oldest son was "invited" to move out when he was in college because he felt that he was too old and too smart to obey the "house rules" (like staying out all night) that all of his siblings had to obey. Three of my four are college grads now, out of the house and on their own. My youngest son (16 yrs. old) is so easy going, responsible and easy to deal with...such a blessing. Punishment for him is "get off of facebook until your homework is done." He does what he is asked. Thanks for this post. I look forward to following your blog.
ReplyDeleteHi, I am visiting you from the Happy One's blog. I live in central Illinois and when I saw your profile and empty nest in Illinois I wanted to stop by. I am your newest follower.
ReplyDeleteBeth