h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hello... I've recently joined H2G2 and as a mother of a 3(and five months) old son, and a clinical psychology therapist, I can say you are absolutely right on all counts. While many have suggested not to like their music for reasons of identity, etc.. it is also possible to stay neutral - you don't have to like it perse, but it doesn't have to be a battle ground either. As we all know, music is very important in shaping our ideals during those years of individuation so it's important to LISTEN to your child's opinions about these things without condeming or judging THEM... as teens, music is such an integral part of their identity (same with clothes and style) that if you condem the one, you are in essence condemming the other.

As a single parent I try very hard to focus on modeling behavior. I learned this when my son was almost 2 and for some reason he started barking orders at me... I was dumbfounded and thought someone must be yelling at him at daycare... Then, one day, I caught myself yelling AT THE DOGS!!! (Arlo!.. Enstien!.. GET IN HERE NOW!!!!) They really are little sponges (the child, that is)... so from then on I started saying please and thank you to the dogs as well. The most frequently heard comment about my son is that he is so very well mannered... Imagine that.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and I hope it's not too late to post this reply.

PEACE,
DBALLETTO

Very sorry I missed this when you posted. I keep subscribed to the original version, but not to this which I consider a bit po-faced. I hope you have as much fun on the way with yours as I have with mine (the younger one got engaged this week to a lovely girl he met at his brother's wedding nearly three years ago). << When this article was first drafted it spawned some heated debate, which was misplaced in the edit process. Well, I've gone and found the main threads - they are: "Rule 22?" at http://www.h2g2.com/F27590?thread=40586 "Encouraged talent" at http://www.h2g2.com/F27590?thread=62477 "More rules" at http://www.h2g2.com/F27590?thread=40718 "Don't feed sugar" at http://www.h2g2.com/F27590?thread=40573 and the most heated debate was at "Very good" at http://www.h2g2.com/F27590?thread= >> The older son found the links for me.

"Very good" is at F27590?thread=35219