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In a message dated 4/10/03 11:35:14 AM, yhanley@... writes:

<< He is a child so I do expect him to misbehave every so often, ;o) >>

*terminology alert*

This one's not even about teaching and learning!

People "behave" all the time. "Misbehave" is an odd concept. There is bad
behavior and good behavior, and neutral behavior, and justifiably grumpy
behavior, and thoughtless behavior.

I expect my children to do the best they can at any moment. Sometimes they
do things they regret, but they learn how to make things better again,
gradually, over time, with experience.

The older they get, the less I am the judge of whether their behavior is
"mis" or not. I will say when I think something hurt someone's feelings.

We've discussed behavior in terms of the impression made on everyone around.
The older they get, the less I protect them from the consequences of their
behavior. I coached the little kids closely and they got some skills and I
let them go.

Still sometimes they ask me for advice. And sometimes they don't.

Always, each person judges everyone else's behavior as acceptable to them or
not, as attractive to them or not, as honorable and thoughtful or not.
That's the whole basis of human relationships, is deciding who we will
gravitate toward and who we will avoid.

Sandra