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Showing posts from May, 2011

Admonishing, Bullying, Compelling

Today is Mother's Day. My mom graduated from this life over 20 years ago. Do I miss her? Stupid question to ask. She was a mean mom-in all of her love, caring and sacrifice. Is it right or wrong to admonish, bully, or compel your children to do one thing or another? Or to not do something they really ought not to do? I don't know. Another stupid question. For example. Janele was only 2 and was climbing up onto the half-wall of the porch. On the porch side it was only a 3' drop. On the lawn side it was a 6' drop. I told her three times to get down. Wanting to let her have her agency I did not compel her to get down. The result? The most stupid and avoidable mistake of my young motherhood. She fell, on the wrong side and broke her little arm. Stupidity. Mine for not 'compelling' her to get down. I could have easily picked her up, taken her inside and got her interested in making lunch, playing with toys, etc. But me? I did the stupid thing and let her choose for h