Pam Hartley

----------
>From: [email protected]
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Digest Number 2522
>Date: Tue, Oct 22, 2002, 8:46 AM
>

> Being new I was wondering if/what rules are instilled in your household.
>
> example- No food out of the dining area
> bathing
> ect
>
> This is our first week and I do see some changes already, but trying to
> change my out look on something's are very hard, like when my son just picks
> and picks on the other child I take care of during the day. Will sit there
> and repeat his name in a chant and when the child ask him to stop he keeps
> doing it and will even follow him to do it. I just want to tell him to knock
> it off but don't feel that is the right approach.


I'd tell him to knock it off. <g> I'd probably try to tell him that in
private, and it would come with explanation and help in creating space and
time and aloneness and you available even if the other child is in the
house, if your son is feeling irritated about a non-family member in his
space.

And if he was really irritated by it, I'd find another way including not
taking care of the other child (i.e, telling him parents you can't any more
and they'll have to find other arrangements, not setting Other Child out in
the snow :)

The food and bathing and all are different issues -- your son is harming the
other child by intentionally being mean to him, the other stuff is "just"
mom's level of tolerance for mess and smell and you can, IMHO, do a lot more
relaxing there and see what alternatives you can all come up with.

Pam

Tia Leschke

> The food and bathing and all are different issues -- your son is harming
the
> other child by intentionally being mean to him, the other stuff is "just"
> mom's level of tolerance for mess and smell and you can, IMHO, do a lot
more
> relaxing there and see what alternatives you can all come up with.

Anybody who is concerned about the future bathing habits of their kids can
take heart. Around puberty, most kids will start bathing regularly. In
fact mine bathes a little too regularly, like often a couple of showers a
day. <g> This too shall pass.
Tia