I went to book club last night and was not home until 11.30 pm and thus had to go straight to bed.
I did end up googling reviews for the books I bought and then thought it might be okay to read them. Ha ha. But I just fibbed my way through the whole thing and all went well.
Naturally there was talk about kids. All of those book club gals have children no older than seven so are at that phase in parenting where kids are generally easier to influence. Is that the word? Maybe not. Maybe as a parent you feel more in control and then you get to the teenage years and realise that you and the child are suddenly in the cockpit together trying to fly the plane of life. Both aiming for control.
I know I have gone on about this whole parenting thing before. Parenting styles polarise people. So many things will determine how a parent will guide their children through life.
Anyway, during the course of the evening there was a discussion about a family whose children go to the same local school as the children of two book club girls. The parents are nice. Mother is a solicitor and the father is a lawyer. The girls are nice to but (ain't there always a but) they are always untidy. Hair unbrushed, clothes mismatched and dirty shoes. A bit wild.
Some of the girls have been to this couples house for a "play date" (I hate that term) and therein lies a little problem. The parents are very, very easy going. In fact, they are too easy going. Too liberal.
The house is dirty. And untidy. The kids are allowed to run around and watch television. They were even allowed to sit in the parents bed, eating chocolate and watching television. If they are hungry they can just raid the fridge or the pantry and eat what they like.
They are left to their own devices........
How awful.
Children left to their own devices.
No structured play.
No fruit plate with cheese cubes.
They might have found a chocolate biscuit and EATEN it!!!
Or drank milk straight from the carton.
And not washed their hands after having a pee.
Oh, wait, that's my place I am talking about.
Nah, seriously, hand washing after a pee is mandatory.
But I have to confess to all the other misdemeanours.
Which may explain why my son never has friends over.
Ha ha.
Ciao
LC
I was always, shall we say... a bit unstructured. I was a working single mom, so I always figured that a less formal approach kept me and my kids sane. Cleanliness was mandatory, but we often ate in front of the TV, and some special nights I'd take them to have banana splits for dinner. I felt that the occasional banana split was warranted, and it also had all the major food groups. Dairy, fruit, nuts and grains. The girls loved it and so did I. And the ice cream made them very sleepy so there was rarely any bickering on the way home. We ate more often than not at the kitchen table till we moved and our house was too small for eating at the table. I had very little help with the girls, and had to work to support us. We were close knit and worked together to survive as a family. I kept my hours at work at a limit so I could be there for the girls rather than have babysitters raise them. We went without a lot of extras due to this, but I still feel that they got a very good upbringing. Parenting styles will always vary, but none are wrong as long as the kids are not neglected or abused. I feel good about the way I raised my kids, despite endless criticism from outsiders. They really are wonderful girls.
ReplyDeleteKaren: I think being a single parent is so tough. I see my younger sister doing it hard. You can never just drop your bundle when you are responsible for your own children.
ReplyDeleteI know you have had ups and downs with things but the fact you have been such a good parent in the past will bring your girl back to you when she gets past the hump of teenage years.
You did really well considering your circumstances. And it is really nice that you are aware of it. Lots of parents never give themselves the pat on the back they deserve.