Apparently there’s a revolution underway. I’m not the only one rewriting the rules.
I’m glad I’ve never heard of this guy, this columnist John Rosemond whose work is syndicated into newspapers all over the US. Anyway he has this ridiculously miserable set of rules designed to make children as miserable as possible during their indoctrination. If you like this- you can check out his website where he urges people to print them out and hang them in every room of the house. If you do that, I recommend you paint something over the nasty words.
Because it is the most character-building, two-letter word in the English language, children have the right to hear their parents say “No” at least three times a day.
……………………………………..
Children have the right to find out early in their lives that their parents don’t exist to make them happy, but to offer them the opportunity to learn the skills they will need to eventually make themselves happy.
……………………………………..
Children have a right to scream all they want over the decisions their parents make, albeit their parents have the right to confine said screaming to certain areas of their homes.
……………………………………..
Children have the right to find out early that their parents care deeply for them but don’t give a hoot what their children think about them at any given moment in time.
……………………………………..
Because it is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, children have the right to hear their parents say “Because I said so” on a regular and frequent basis.
……………………………………..
Because it is the most character-building activity a child can engage in, children have the right to share significantly in the doing of household chores.
……………………………………..
Every child has the right to discover early in life that he isn’t the center of the universe (or his family or his parents’ lives), that he isn’t a big fish in a small pond, and that he isn’t the Second Coming, so as to prevent him from becoming an insufferable brat.
……………………………………..
Children have the right to learn to be grateful for what they receive, therefore, they have the right to receive all of what they truly need and very little of what they simply want.
……………………………………..
Children have the right to learn early in their lives that obedience to legitimate authority is not optional, that there are consequences for disobedience, and that said consequences are memorable and, therefore, persuasive.
……………………………………..
Every child has the right to parents who love him/her enough to make sure he/she enjoys all of the above rights.
Luckily, some unschooling mom – Flo, I believe, rewrote those horrid rules and posted the “Unschooler’s Bill of Rights” which is, by far, much more pleasant. I imagine the children think so, too.
It sickens me that they call it “traditional parenting.” But I guess that’s a semantic issue. Who on earth wants to raise their children with a deep-rooted feeling of worthlessness? Apparently a lot of people because he sells parenting classes and coaching sessions.
I am so grateful that my life isn’t like that. I’m glad that my family doesn’t buy into that kind of garbage.
I am the non-religious father of four non-religiously homeschooled children, and I agree wholeheartedly with Mr. Rosemond’s sentiments. Flo’s children might have more “fun” in the short-term, but John’s will, in all likelihood, enjoy greater success and overall happiness over the course of their lives, as will mine. There’s nothing wrong with setting limits and establishing rules for one’s children, or for teaching them how to function effectively in the real world.
Except that in the “real world” humans are expected to manage themselves and the problem with inflicting arbitrary rules on children is that it’s not supportive, it doesn’t help them figure out how to manage themselves, it just teaches them to distrust authority, it teaches them that people in power can get away with things they can’t and that no one cares who they are, just that the rules are followed. If that’s what you want…. the world will always need employees
There’s not much in the first set I don’t agree with. In the second I’d say it’s good to question authority. Kids should learn that the game is rigged and to challenge those in power. But they should also know it can get you killed if done stupidly.