When did structure become a bad thing?
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| Fri, 07-30-2004 - 8:19am |
We used to live next door to a "no structure" family. The kids ran wild in the neighborhood, the mom never planned dinner so lord only knows if and when the kids ate. Sorry, I don't think that's a good way to live. My kids know we eat dinner at 6:30, so they have to be home.
I can see taht you wouldn't demand that an infant go to bed and wake up at precisely the same time, but is there ever a time to impose structure on a child? So lets say you are the freewheeling type and have always doen things whenever. What happens when you send your child to school where the bell rings at the same time every day?
As far as activities, I realize all kids are different, but when my kids were little, if we just did whatever, whenever, my kids woudl end up grumpy and overtired. My experience is that if say, we were at the beach and I say, oh heck, let's just stay later, the kids woudl be happy at first, but by the days end I would end up with whiny, overtired kids.
Maybe I'm just misinterpreting what I am reading, but I personally think structure is a good thing. When children are small, the structure includes naptimes, mealtimes, etc. As they get older it evolves into boundaries like "be home at 6 for dinner" or "you can't go into soemones house without telling me first". I couldn't imagine living without structure or boundaries for my kids.
Susan

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It's not wholly naive to think they can wait until college to see an OB/GYN so long as your girls wait until college to become sexually active.
And if you think they'll wait until then, I think THAT'S naive.
But, it depends on what you feel is the purpose of that discussion. If what you want is the pelvic exam and discussion about how to avoid STDs and not go into a discussion about the emotional aspects, then you may be wise in choosing a particular OB/GYN who's style isn't to discuss those things.
My point was that IMO it is naive to think that your children will wait until age 18 to become sexually active. So waiting until they start college to have them start seeing an OB/GYN might meet the 18 YO recommendation, but might be too late for the "when sexual activity begins" recommendation.
Karen
"A pocketknife is like a melody;sharp in some places,
dj
Dj
"Now when I need help, I look in the mirror" ~Kanye West~
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