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When Kids Make the Rules
Posted by Jeff on November 24, 2009 1 views Comments (View Comments)So what happens when your kids make the rules? Most likely it leads to chaos, including frustration, screams, time-outs and more. Well, both of my kids now think they are rule-makers and can just bark out orders and Mommy and I will heed their beckoned calls! Ok, maybe it’s not that bad…but there is a small amount of truth in that statement, especially at dinner time! We sometimes feel like we are waiting on tables and our kids are grumpy old patrons demanding our service!
Our kids do attempt to create some rules for Mommy and me. Sometimes these rules are pretty damn funny and other times make me pretty damn mad – like when they told me I couldn’t have dessert because I’m on a “wife-enforced-diet”. UGH! Kids!! (thanks guys)
So why do kids start making up their own rules? I’m not really sure…but maybe it’s a sense of growing up and responsibility. Or maybe it’s because they are constantly bombarded with adults telling them what they CAN and CANNOT do every minute they are awake! Either way, I think if the rules are somewhat harmless to let the kids “run with it” to help boost their confidence, the creativity and to give them a little sense of empowerment. Of course, I’m not going to give-in to crazy rules like “we can stay up really late” or “we’re allowed to jump off the kitchen table”.
I was looking for some articles online about this subject, but surprisingly…I didn’t really find much. Or at least not what I was really looking to read and use in this post.
So what do you think? Should your kids set a few rules to give them some “freedom” or should parents be 100% rule-makers and enforcers? Please leave comments so we can all start to think and discuss. Thanks!
