JFF - Parenting Tip (Video to Watch)

Cute video for new parents. I have a friend who has a new infant. It's her second, but she's catching a lot of flack on social media about some of her choices. Those baby wraps were rather new on the scene when my kids were little, but apparently some parents are very passionate about them and what types are best nowadays.
I would say that as the kids get older its a good idea to have certain ages kids are allowed to do things. For instance, my kids know they will not have a cell phone until they are 14 unless they have a job or sport that would warrant a need. My opinion is that not only does it give them something to look forward to-but also kids appriciate things more when they are not just handed over at a mere want. Most of my kids friends have iPhones. These are 7-10 year old kids!!!!

loved the video...so true. so well produced too.

to answer your question i think the thing i'm most passionate about is treating my son with the kind of dignity and respect that i expect to be treated with. he is a PERSON who happens to be a kid at this juncture of his life and while parenting him is a blessing all the time, and a challenge part of the time, including him as much in our family "team" is really important to me. we never burden him with adult issues but we do include him when we know he can benefit from it. thanks for the smile on this endless friday of this endless week. :-) S.

Well, I cannot watch your video but in my house, excuses are unacceptable. Reasons: maybe. For example, I can't do my homework cause I forgot my book at school. Oops, lousy excuse (for my first 3, hee hee, use your sister's book). I couldn;t do my homework because I was sick for 3 days and missed class--acceptable but you better get busy making it up.

I try to get my kids to look at things from several angles and not just let some kind of obstacle put them down or block what they want to do. I even told my daughter's bf that. He was saying how he was going to fail a test so why bother taking it. It really urks me when the someone has the attitude that they don't feel they can do something so why bother trying at all.

And in my house, my kids have chores they are supposed to do. Actually doing them without being told is another story.

WOW! Love this video and its message.

I was laughing until the ***SPOILER ALERT*** stroller started rolling towards the water. And then, I felt my gut tighten and tears form in my eyes.

Because no matter what we think or do within our own little families, the common denominator is the overwhelming love we have for our children, and by extension, for the safety and well-being of all children. In situations like this, all of the arbitrary categories we and the media propagate wash away, and we simply react like loving, caring people.

And that leads to one of my favorite parenting things: that other parents/families/people get to decide what is right for them, and we decide what is right for us. Doesn't make us better or them better or one right and one wrong. Just different ways of doing things, and each family has to decide what works best for them.

Also teaching them that life is sometimes unfair, and that regardless of what happens, their happiness and well-being are largely dependent on their attitudes, choices, and behaviors.

This was something that came up recently when my youngest son complained about something the teacher did that he thought was unfair. While he had a valid point, this was an opportunity to talk with him about how we don't always get what we want, even if we've done a really great job and even if our point makes sense; that many things in life are judgement calls and that other people sometimes get to make those decisions and we just have to roll with it and not get bogged down by things we can't control.

If they get these lessons, it's a really good start, I think.

J. F.

Loved the video as well!

For me, particularly with younger kids, I recommend positive guidance and direction; clear boundaries and consequences; never propose a consequence that you will 'cave' on; 'catch them being good' and PRAISE them!

I have been on each side of some of the fences shown in the video. But, overall, I think we all make the best choices we can for our family at any given time.

Have a great weekend!

I have mixed feelings about the video, mostly because there was so much hyperbole and I do think there are more open-minded parents out there than the media would reflect. (Plus, it was made/introduced by a company that makes money from parents, so it is a sort of commercial.) That said, it is funny and has a good point: we are all better together than we are in partisan groups. I've come to feel that parenting can be a partisan activity for some. :)

My 'one thing' is likely to change throughout life. For us, there are a few things which seem very important to me right now:
1. Don't do for the child what they can/should do for themselves. Along the parenting road, we sometimes choose to accommodate our kids in ways which are convenient in the short term but which teach less-desired behaviors and habits in the long term, some of which could be learned helplessness or lack of confidence because they can sense the parent's low expectation.

2. Try to work toward "Yes" whenever possible. Sometimes a 'yes' and "when" ("yes we can go to the library tomorrow after chores" "yes, you may watch tv when your room is clean" ) work much better than a 'No, not until'.

3. Listen to our kids. Just listen. Often, I've found that a bit of empathetic reflective listening works better at turning a hard moment around than trying to punish to control behavior. Not always... sometimes we are too far down the rabbit hole and everyone needs a break, but getting a kid to 'buy into' what needs to get done instead of having them do it to escape an unwanted consequence (and sometimes this is necessary) is far better for everyone.

(And no, I don't have all the answers. Instead I have a mercurial, sweet seven year old who wears me out sometimes! Parenting is not for the weak!)

Yep. Saw that on Facebook....

Best tip? Never let them see you sweat! Lol

Liked the video, except people don't act like that irl, they only act like that on the internet.