We are at the airport, me and Chuck, alone. Alone. Can you imagine? For most of you who are parents, it is hard for you to imagine. In reality, I'm not alone, my kids are in my head, can't get rid of them. But that's okay. They're with my mom, in their own environment, doing just fine. I'm reading my ScreamFree book. Just wanted to share a thought provoking exerpt: So we have a paradox. Parents shape their children. Children shape themselves. Both are true. My answer to this paradox is not to eliminate it but rather embrace it by changing one small preposition: we are not responsible FOR our children; we are responsible TO our children. I'm not sure I totally agree with this, but it is thought provoking nevertheless. What do you think?
2 comments:
WEIRD (alone at the airport)!
I agree in some ways we are responsible to our children in the same way we are responsible to our spouse but in the case of our children they are not our equal - we are the authority. If I let my child down because I am selfish, impulsive, irresponsible etc it is HER I will answer to for it (in a variety of ways) so that makes me responsible to her. Is that what the author meant?
I think that's sort of what he is saying. So far he has neglected the discipline part. He mentions that if our children make the wrong decisions, that there will be consequences. But he talks a lot about how we must help our children know what the right decisions are based on who they (we) want to be. And as their parents we need to model that. I think most of what he talks about is more applicable to older children. I'm only half way thru the book. I'll share more later.
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