Marlon asked: "So, what do the rest of you do to try to protect or control your kids these days?"
I taught them respect for others. I taught them to treat the janitor the same as they'd treat the principal. I taught them to befriend the friendless. I taught them honesty and integrity, and demonstrated by example. Tell them regularly you are proud of them. Trust them unless given reason not to trust. Listen. Listen some more. Ask good questions. Show an interest in what they are and what they do. My situation may be different than some other's, but I did some other things. I taught them how to handle guns with safety and to shoot. I taught them early how to drive a vehicle, as soon as they could see over the steering wheel, we took the Jeep out in the sticks and I taught them to drive. Parenting is not easy. Kids don't come with an owner's manual, and unfortunately don't come with an on-off switch. God speed in your parenting. Be careful you don't come down too hard and alienate them. Some such rifts last for years. Be aware that at 13, a kid thinks you are the most stupid person in the world, but at 21 will have an epiphany that you were right all along. Be aware that whoever coined the term "terrible twos," never met a 4 year old, OR a 13 year old. Mike -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wants You! Join today! http://signup.wispa.org/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
