Wednesday, October 25, 2006

artisan parenting

Violence rears its ugly head once more. The first time around Ezra was but a wee toddling baby and was busy waddling around pushing shoving and pulling hair as only babies can. I was mortified by his behaviour, but together we were able to learn that it was wrong to try and rip other children's arms out of their sockets. (Seth is teetering on the edge of this phase and I go into it slightly more relaxed than last time.)
This time its other kids attacking Ez- and worse, him replicating this behaviour. Now they're all a bit bigger, they spend their time tugging, snatching and stealing each others toys. Everyone has a different way of dealing with this, and I am in no way criticizing other parents methods of tackling this behaviour. I am old school, and so I wade in when there's a visible snatch going on.
Similarly, if another child is hitting Ez (or he's pushing or shoving some other innocent) I wade in and remove Ezra. Occasionally, I've been so incensed by an act that I've even removed the other child and offered them up to their parent. I assume that all parents would want to tackle violence straight away- head on and sternly. I am a zero tolerance kind of Mum.
I am learning that I am wrong in this assumption. Some parents don't seem to care at all (and they should be shot at dawn See? No tolerance.) Some parents believe that a bit of push and shove is all part of learning to socialise and develop independence and confidence (I can see where they are coming from), and some think its character building (oooh, he knows what he wants! He'll be fantastic on the rugby/football pitch.)
I am also learning that in comparison to many middle class parents, I am a working class, shouting, stern downright hard mum. When Ez has been particurlarly naughty (oh no, I labelled my child- he'll become a murderer now!!) he gets a strong telling off and a time out. In public this involves being put in his pram, or standing against the wall away from the rest of the children for a period of time. I can see other parents staring, aghast at how cruel I am being.
I give him incentives for good behaviour- I remove toys and treats for bad behaviour. I think nothing of hollering across a crowded room if I spot him grabbing or pushing, or snatching.
I am aware of how I must appear to others- I cringe at how my desire to be in control often materializes as bullying. I hope I can get the knack of this parenting thing and learn to be less domineering. All I can say is, I'm new at this. As are all of the other parents. I have good intentions. I care about their future and I am trying to teach my children that there are consequences for there actions- both good and bad.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm amazed that what you are doing causes anyone to look askance. It all seems like perfect good sense to me.

CHIC-HANDSOME said...

life just good

Anonymous said...

Don't stress it worked for you!

Anonymous said...

Found you!!

Anonymous said...

Well then I too am working class and there's nothing wrong there. I just read an article in a parenting magazine that seemed to be so pussyfooting around telling your child off - I read it and thought 'I could never, in a million yrs imagine saying that.' I don;t think parenting is about compromise much at this age - I pick my battles with the kids but don;t have time to um and ah it through. I also take my kid away from the playground 'tugs n pushes' and I know what you mean about the parents who don't.

Minks said...

mumof4. I'm so glad you said that. And as a mum of 4 I respect your opinion. You are a professional!!

angelfeet said...

I was going to say the same as mumof4. How will kids know wrong from right unless the boundaries are set? Sometimes that can only be communicated by a firm telling off and appropriate time-out measures, wherever you are. I never quite know what other parents are thinking about how I am with my two. Some days I just positively project that they are watching me for tips on parenting, rather than thinking that I'm over-reacting.

Anonymous said...

Why is it that the trend in modern parenting (I can't believe I just wrote those words) is that any kind of discipline is WRONG. It's ludicrous. I blame the Scandinavians. A friend described thus his encounter with a little Danish boy and his parents:

Mother: Jens, please put down the vase it is fragile.
Father: Yes, Jens, please put down the vase it is fragile.
Mother: Jens, please fetch the dustpan.

By the by, your aol address doesn't work for me, is it dead?

Minks said...

ah, there's been a slight alteration. I shall leave the new version as a comment on your blog
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