I have been working with kids a long time. Kids accost me all the time. By that I mean I could be sitting in a restaurant and a toddler I have never met will leave their parents' table and come over to me totally unbidden, arms outstretched. If they are able to talk, they do. It happens in grocery stores, malls and I have never been able figure out why. It's weird and has always amused friends or family who may be with me at the time.
The irony is when I impose limits and standards for behavior, school work etc., they grumble and groan at first, but later they LIKE it. They are free to concentrate on being a child with me because there is a consistent adult presence they can trust. They don't have to act like a shrunken adult, something they don't handle very well anyway. They come before school because I need help. They eat lunch in my room because I need help. They stay after school because I need help. I am the most helpless person in the world and that's why they have to hang around. At least that's THEIR story. I know they just want to hang around with someone they trust before going home to who-knows-what, so I let them "help" me. Sometimes, they'll ask me the same question two or three times just to check if the answer is still no. When I stick to my guns, they smile and say "OK." It's like they're just checking. Children just don't think the way adults do or process the world as we do. There are only certain things they can handle at certain stages of their development, allowing of course for some children who are ahead for their age or behind. Still, they are not adults. We are. On 7/22/07 8:28 AM, "Frank" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Thanks for saying this, Wilma. In my opinion, this can't be stressed > enough. It's been so obvious to me for so long that I can't believe > everyone can't see it. It deeply scares me. Bill Maher always says > that parents today make the huge mistake of trying to be their > children's friends instead of their parents. He's so right. > > Frank > > On Jul 20, 2007, at 07:13 PM, Wilma de Soto wrote: > >> Yes, It's sad. >> >> However, the worst is yet to come. >> >> Adults must realize that at least the past two generations have been >> socialized to be violent. >> >> First of all, children are naturally self-centered, cruel, mean and >> violent. >> >> People like us had people who were called adults, whose job was to >> teach >> restraint of the primordial childish urges and teach them to be >> productive >> citizens into the society into which they were born. >> >> Instead of preparing the child for the world, they are trying to >> change the >> world for their child. >> >> Children are now born perfect. Their parents dictate to camp >> counselor, >> futbol coaches, dance instructors, school teachers etc. >> >> No wonder children have no social decorum. >> >> >> On 7/20/07 5:36 PM, "Anthony West" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >>> That is so sad, Wilma. >>> >>> -- Tony West >>> >>> Wilma de Soto wrote: >>>> That 18 year-old who shot the 14 year-old on the bike was a >>>> former student >>>> at my school. >>>> >>>> This is the second incident involving former students of mine in >>>> the last >>>> few months. >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>> ---- >>> You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the >>> list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see >>> <http://www.purple.com/list.html>. >> >> >> ---- >> You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the >> list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see >> <http://www.purple.com/list.html>. > > ---- > You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the > list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see > <http://www.purple.com/list.html>. ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
