|
John Rosemond - Parenting Expert |
John Rosemond is America's most widely-read parenting authority! He is a best-selling author, columnist, speaker, and family psychologist. Index | Archives | About John Rosemond | Books | Submit A Question |
|
Son doesn't want a
kiss? This is not a sign of the apocalypse
I’m going to speculate that six years of anxiety has become stifling to your son’s sense of independence. It must be oppressive to be the focus of so much attention, after all, especially when the attention in question takes the form of lots of hand-wringing over the most trivial of things. I’m getting around to telling you that the solution to this “problem” lies with you backing off, relaxing, and letting things begin to take their natural course. In that regard, I advise you to simply tell him, rather casually, one day (this afternoon perhaps?), "Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I’ve decided that you are big enough and responsible enough to begin putting yourself to bed without anyone’s help. Furthermore, it’s fairly obvious that this is what you want. So, I’m not going to put you to bed any longer, beginning tonight. This is a great privilege, and I know that you’re going to handle it responsibly.” And then turn back, nonchalantly, to whatever it was you were doing, thus closing the book on that chapter in your life with him. And then, for your own sake, as well as his, stop thinking of him as a 30-week preemie. He’s a 6-year-old little boy who needs his mom to stop worrying about him. |
Copyright © 2000 - 2009 All Rights Reserved Washington
Publishers
This web page is best viewed in 1024 x 768 resolution.
Last updated April 2009. Over 1,194,000 page views.
This web site is maintained by Washington Publishers, Tallahassee Florida,
USA, and uses Sun Domains and Software.
To have objectionable or potentially copyrighted material evaluated
for removal on this site, click
here.
Washington Publishers is not an affiliate of Inside
Washington Publishers.
Learn more about our current privacy
and information practices.