OTOTOTOTOT
Aloha,
Re: IMO the two are not mutually exclusive, that is, being buddies with your children AND teaching. I won't argue that you can't be both, but as a parent of twin 4 year olds and twin 2 year olds I've realized that there are about 6 billion people out in the world who can be their "buddy", but only two of us who will be their mother and father; and that we have a very short window of time where we're going to shape their ethics, morals, and behaviors. A buddy isn't going to correct bad behavior, isn't going to make you do your homework and make sure you're learning, isn't going to make sure you're eating healthy (at least mine never did, nor would have I wanted them to <G>). I agree with your follow on sentiments -- we show them how to resolve conflicts with words, how to negotiate, how to respect the rights of others, and we make sure that we hug them and let them know that we love them and that they can come to us with any problem and we'll help them with it, but that's not being a buddy, that's being a parent, I believe.
Sorry for going on. I guess my point is that, even if you're both, you have to prioritize heavily on the side of being a parent and teacher since there are so many others who can be their buddies.
Dave |
