I was less than happy when my son would slam a door when he was that age. I found a lecture about bad manners worked very well, that and the loss of his allowance for a week.
MIL, who at 78 is allowed to be honest in a way we younger parents are not, is fond of saying “If only kids knew how close they came to death and how often”… even those of us who would never hurt our kids get very angry. Elly is more honest than we are these days about that anger, which I find refreshing— she shows the strange dichotomy between strong love and anger and frustration. It’s not like it looks from the outside. Not at all. “Oh, you’re just consistent and calm and they will learn, since they are rational beings,” I used to say. HA HA HA!!! Training cats is easier. And my kids, I’ve been informed, are sweet, thoughtful, and well-behaved.
Jel: ’Children should be seen and not heard’ was actually progressive in its time. It meant that children could and should learn from adult conversation (seen as being present), but not to interrupt with childish comments.
I remember a story how one family taught the older kids and their friends to be quiet during the new baby’s nap time. They posted a sign. “Nathan’s sleeping. You wake him, YOU TAKE HIM.”
RedBaron38: This was a saying from a class that discussed literature and music. Kids today can get your list from TV, particularly places that leave Fox News on all day, cable, and the old reliable schoolyard. The saying applied to the salon, not the saloon.
hsawlrae about 10 years ago
…violence, with great delight.
Barry1941 about 10 years ago
I was less than happy when my son would slam a door when he was that age. I found a lecture about bad manners worked very well, that and the loss of his allowance for a week.
Laynegg about 10 years ago
At least he shut the door…My mom used to yell at us on a daily basis “Shut the door! Do you think you were raised in a barn!”
redarmrest about 10 years ago
Take a few deep breaths and then go and deal with him. He’s just a babe.
masnadies about 10 years ago
MIL, who at 78 is allowed to be honest in a way we younger parents are not, is fond of saying “If only kids knew how close they came to death and how often”… even those of us who would never hurt our kids get very angry. Elly is more honest than we are these days about that anger, which I find refreshing— she shows the strange dichotomy between strong love and anger and frustration. It’s not like it looks from the outside. Not at all. “Oh, you’re just consistent and calm and they will learn, since they are rational beings,” I used to say. HA HA HA!!! Training cats is easier. And my kids, I’ve been informed, are sweet, thoughtful, and well-behaved.
BlackFrostWarrior about 10 years ago
Ah, the REAL reason children are not allowed to slam the door.
stuart about 10 years ago
Call the police these days in the US, and they shoot somebody.
sameyers2 about 10 years ago
So true:-)
JanLC about 10 years ago
Oh, and Susan, thanks for the spoiler.
Stephen Gilberg about 10 years ago
Whether or not Elly’s behavior is appropriate or Michael’s is tolerable, this punchline fails to be much of a punchline.
hippogriff about 10 years ago
Jel: ’Children should be seen and not heard’ was actually progressive in its time. It meant that children could and should learn from adult conversation (seen as being present), but not to interrupt with childish comments.
Asharah about 10 years ago
I remember a story how one family taught the older kids and their friends to be quiet during the new baby’s nap time. They posted a sign. “Nathan’s sleeping. You wake him, YOU TAKE HIM.”
hippogriff about 10 years ago
RedBaron38: This was a saying from a class that discussed literature and music. Kids today can get your list from TV, particularly places that leave Fox News on all day, cable, and the old reliable schoolyard. The saying applied to the salon, not the saloon.