Maybe Mother Did Know Best:: Old-Fashioned Parenting the Modern Way
by Linda L. Small
Category: Family & Relationships

Once upon a time, grown-ups ruled the roost with such absolute edicts as: Children should be seen and not heard... Spare the rod and spoil the chlid... Don't leave the table until you clean your plate. Life was tough for kids. It wasn't fair, and there wasn't even an 800 number to call. Times have changed, and experts have advised today's parents to treat their children with more kindness and understanding. Sounds good...but has concern for the child's happiness overidden parental responsibility? Many of today's kids are out of control, and parents are frustrated and exhausted. Modern kids are not only heard-they're often the ONLY ones heard, with adult conversation drowned out by endless choices presented to three year olds, boisterous squabbling by five year olds, or the battle cries of nine year olds playing war games. Mealtime in many homes has turned Mom into a short-order cook, catering to the likes and dislikes of each child, with little time to enjoy a meal herself. Spankings are out and "time outs" are in, but many a little kid feels free to express his frustration by throwing a few punches at Mom or Dad. Maybe it's time for a change. With dozens of straight talk examples, Maybe Mother Did Know Best compares the "old-fashioned" with the "modern" way to raise children and concludes that today's parents need a little "time out" from letting the children rule. Somewhere between the harshness of the old way and the indulgence of the new, common sense must prevail, with good manners, discipline, and parental guidlines pointing the way to a more harmonious family life for both children and parents.