DISQUS

Douglas Cootey · 10 months ago

I am the type of parent that believes that a child should be allowed to scuff his/her knees while learning. At the same time, however, I hold a tight leash. There are some scuffs that should be avoided. Experiences like abuse & violence should be protected against at all costs. Consequently, because of experience, I don't allow sleep overs or let them wander the neighborhood (we live in the city), but I do allow hours and hours of activity filled days where they learn and grow and even fail while we wait in the wings.

I do feel, however, that we as parents have a tendency to overprotect as you found yourself doing. We are responsible for protecting them, so we can't be faulted for motive. We just need to make sure that our protection doesn't deny them opportunities for growth.

Good post.

<abbr>Douglas Cootey´s last blog post..The Pile That Ate My Day - One Man's Tale of Vanquishing ADHD Boredom</abbr>

Richard Reeve · 10 months ago

Hi Douglas,
Certainly I agree about abuse and violence. I really appreciate your sharing your experience here.

Susan/Together We Flourish · 10 months ago

Sometimes children need to be allowed to form their own perception of something. As adults we often label something as good or bad when it simply is. As an example I have one son who was scared to death in a haunted house that was designed for children, while the younger one laughed and played with the characters in the house. Yes, it is our responsibility to protect our children, but not to the point of denying them to form their own perceptions.

<abbr>Susan/Together We Flourish´s last blog post..North Hills Youth Ministry Needs Volunteers to Tutor</abbr>

Richard Reeve · 10 months ago

Hello Susan,
Your comment is a great addition to this topic. I love the contrast between the two sons at the haunted house. Parenting is an amazing journey.

Henie · 10 months ago

Isn't it a dichotomy that in our earnest desire to teach our children, we stress over and over that they can be (and do) anything they want to be...and then entirely miss the next nuance we interject...that suddenly we need to catch them from a fall?

"The magic of all children is they believe they can fly...until we hint otherwise!" ~Henie~

<abbr>Henie´s last blog post..Sempiternal Glow</abbr>

Richard Reeve · 10 months ago

Hi Henie,
Yes it's paradoxical, isn't it. Love the flying quote. I so try to do what I can to keep my son;s imagination active and not extinguish it, or at least contribute to the extinguishing of it.