To: solon_where_r_u
I am in the middle of a divorce and have a one-year old son whom I plan on raising as well as I can in the time I can spend with him. I have two sons as well as a daughter. They're all teenagers now, and they've all turned out pretty well despite a divorce nearly ten years ago.
Here are some things I've learned.
- If you're Christian (or, even if you're not :-) ) Teach him to read the Bible and to pray. This is especially effective when he occasionally catches you reading the Bible and praying.
- Good parenting is difficult. Make the effort to do the right thing, not the easy thing.
- Doing the right thing will sometimes make your son angry with you for a while. Expect it and do the right thing anyway.
- Children need and want firm, consistent boundaries of right and wrong. Decide early on what those boundaries will be and don't move them around. Live within the moral boundaries yourself.
- Express your love for your son in word and in deed, regularly. Especially after discipline, you'll need to reassure him that he's still loved. Discipline, forgive and love.
- When disciplining, explain exactly what he did or didn't do that got him into trouble. He needs to be able to tie the behavior to the consequences in his mind.
- Never discipline out of anger. Give yourself time to calm down enough that you can make the punishment fit the crime. I've found that punishment which takes away something of value is particularly effective. (i.e. You lose access to the car for three days because you didn't wear your seat belt.) If possible, he should know in advance approximately what the consequences will be.
- Remember your own mistakes growing up. It can help you keep his behavior in perspective.
- Reward good behavior. Do this abundantly as he first picks up a good habit or ability, then tone it down as he learns that he's expected to be good anyway. Again, describe exactly what he did to make you happy with him.
- Don't expect more out of him than he is capable of. Don't spank your son for failing to keep his room clean when he's only two, for example. The "What to expect..." books are very good resources for this.
55 posted on
04/27/2007 2:53:45 PM PDT by
TChris
(The Democrat Party: A sewer into which is emptied treason, inhumanity and barbarism - O. Morton)
To: TChris
89 posted on
04/27/2007 3:50:18 PM PDT by
Quix
(GOD ALONE IS GOD; WORTHY; PAID THE PRICE; IS COMING AGAIN; KNOWS ALL; IS LOVING; IS ALTOGETHER GOOD!)
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