Wednesday Links

At one & a half a child knows “no”. The moment a kid uses the word him/herself, it’s valid to use to the child. Melt-downs may happen but they’ll lessen as the kid internalizes the word/concept. A parent shouldn’t “reason” w/ a child that age – as you say, they’re not at the age of reason. You can’t win a power struggle w/ a kid – they know no bounds unless you’ve consistently taught them that no means no.

Ah, mom-bashing. Favorite sport of the childless — and, as Brenda demonstrates, a cannibalistic entertainment for some mothers, too.

The problem, my childless friends, is something you cannot remember or fathom. The problem is 2 and 3-year-olds who cannot be reasoned with. Who see TREAT and only TREAT and who, naturally, have a fit when TREAT is cruelly denied them. What’s wrong with an occasional treat? Nothing. A treat every single day at 5:30, an hour before dinner? That is a problem. So, at least sometimes, the answer must be no. And that no is greeted with a tiresome fit.

And what’s with these parents without backbones? You surely remember being told no and accepting it. But there’s a problem with your memory.

While you may remember some moments when you were 2 or 3, you really do not remember the whole experience of it. YOU DO NOT REMEMBER BEING 2 OR 3. NO ONE DOES. You remember being, say, 7 or 8, when you could better understand and accept “no” and “we will have ice cream on Friday but today is Tuesday.”

Dealing with fits is part of the bill of parenting. But we’re entitled to a wee bit of resentment when it happens every single day. It feels like a setup.

Finally: please note the article did not interview any dads or paid caregivers. Just moms. Just so once again you could indulge in a little cheap, class-based misogyny.

oh hells no. there is nothing cheesier than gay dads. NOTHING.

*rob*

I bet these parents throw tantrums at the PS Food Coop.

Jester’s got you there, Rob!!! And heaven forbid if the guy loves peacocks and horses too!