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    Some Parents Need Training

    Read more articles on Elementary Aged and Preteens and Let Me Share With You.

    October 16, 2006

    Karen Amato Schwartz
    About This Editor: Karen has enjoyed her many varied experiences in corporate business management, dance education, and preschool assistance. She hopes to write about these past lives-and more-from her home in Pittsburgh, PA, where she lives with her husband, daughter, and 3 cats.

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    Earlier today, I was in a local store, browsing through Halloween candy. A woman walked past me with a child of about 5, who asked, “Mom, what are we giving out for Halloween this year?” The “grownup” answered seriously with, “Poison…so their parents can have some nice fun.”

    ????????

    I kept waiting for her to laugh and say something to the effect of, “You know Mommy’s just kidding…”, or failing that, for the kid to say something-anything-but nothing was forthcoming. Was she told not to question? Was she in shock? Most importantly, did the child believe her?

    Who in their right mind would say that to a child who was asking a legitimate question, something that could be misinterpreted and repeated-eventually to authorities should a tragedy occur? Even in jest, that’s not something to joke about, and it again proves to me that many people lack basic parenting skills.

    Now, I’m learning as I go as well, but at least I’ve never purposely tripped my child (as I saw one father do while playing ball with his son) or allow them to keep items found at school (as the parents of kids who took my daughter’s clothes have done.) These examples validate that character is no longer important, that all’s fair in love and war, and that it’s ok to make insinuations about harming others.

    From getting my daughter through elementary school to teaching dance, to working in a preschool, I’ve seen many examples of bad parenting, yet, I continue to be surprised. There are many decent people out there-adults and kids-it’s just that society has become so accepting of unacceptable behavior that the indecent ones outnumber them…unfortunately for all of us, and for the future.

    Last 5 Entries by Karen Amato Schwartz

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    1. Tiffany Aller October 18th, 2006 3:43 pm

      Karen,

      You’re absolutely on target. You need a license to drive and have to be of a certain age to engage in many activities…but to give birth to a child takes no particular skill and carries no requirements…and while most people rise to the occasion and do a great job raising terrific kids, there are always some, like the one you saw at the market, who really just ought not be in a position to influence young minds. Chris and I encounter children (and their parents) regularly where we live, and it always causes us to look at each other and say…”if that were MY kid”…it can be pretty unbelievable sometimes.

      Tiffany

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