Kids Want Parents To Parent

Just the other day my son Linga told me that he loves me (applause) and I was feeling all warm and fuzzy. The next line kind of brought be back to earth "But I don't like it when you punish me...but it's good for me".

Okay, let's think about that for a moment. The Bible says that nobody being punished actually enjoys it (my paraphrase) but it is good and that is why God, as a loving Father punishes his children. I remember one day my dad punished me with his belt for fighting with my sister. He was a quiet man of sorts but he had to. Today, years after his death, I see the good in it. "But I don't like it when you punish me"

I like to observe parents and their children. Most of us lose the "tantrum battles" and the pattern is set...the kids grow up into 'spoilt brats' who will throw tantrums to get things their way. You can tell when an adult is throwing a tantrum.

Will the real parents please parent? They may thank you later. Linga is already doing it at 7 thank God!

It's a Girl/Boy because

The other day my children had a debate. Tami (girl or 4.5 years) tells her bother (Linga, 7) that she is going to have a baby sister. Linga moves in quick and tells her that the doctor said she saw a boy so we are going to have a baby brother. Upne which Tami reiterates the "fact" that its going to be a girl because "Mum is the one carrying the baby". Clearly implying that if I was me carrying it, then it would be logical to expect a baby boy.

I was out of words and I just let the debate fizzle out. A few weeks later, Thumbiko, their baby brother, was born. After about two weeks Tami has accepted the fact and loves him to bits.

Question for parents and parents to be: what should I have told Tami?

Later.