Raising kids

[VF500]

It's really funny how people, without kids of theirown, know all about how to raise kids. When I was about seven, an aunt (childless at the time) sat me down and told me all about how she was going to raise her kids and how they were going to turn out. (I think she disapproved of me.) She ended up having three boys. Two of them aren't worth shooting. The middle son turned out not too bad. None of them went on to college. All of them have either been divorced at least once or didn't bother getting married before having kids. Her sons have had a number of children but none of them live with their fathers so she doesn't have any grand children to play with. I chuckle to myself every time I think about her lecturing me. If you can't tell, the way a lot of kids are treated is a pet piss off of mine. (Could be from the way I was raised. :rolleyes: Who knows.)
BTW, I've been married for 41 years. Went to college on the GI bill after spending four years in the Marine Corps and graduated from the University of Kentucky as a Mechanical Engineer. Mom and "dear old dad" didn't spend a dime on my education. My wife and I have one adopted son who is 32 years old and graduated from the University of Alabama with a law degree. I didn't turn out so bad either. :) (and I don't have a criminal record. Plea bargains are a good thing)

[Kuch]

Most people without children probably have good intentions; they just don’t realize the struggles that go into raising kids. They probably don’t mean to sound stupid; they just don’t know any better.

I think the way parents raise kids goes a long way, but I also think there are some intangibles that will affect a child too. Some people, for whatever reason, will be screw-ups no matter what. Its unfortunate, but it happens. On the other hand, there are people who will grow up in the most atrocious of circumstances and will be very successful in life. Call it luck, perseverance, or whatever, but some things can’t be taught or quantified.

[David M]

People without children who "know" how to raise kids are seemingly not aware that kids have minds of their own and each have their own personalities. Therefore one theory or method does not apply to all kids. You have to custom tailor the parenting to the individual kid...and not the other way around.

Parenting is also not as simple as the uninitiated think it is.

[Kuch]

Parenting is also not as simple as the uninitiated think it is.
Which is why it is better to raise dogs than kids. Dogs almost always love you unconditionally but can be buried in the backyard.

[VF500]

I dearly love the preface "I don't have any kids of myown, but I...." and they go on to detail all they know about kids. They should drop by a thermodynamics class every few days and check in on what the students are doing. Then let them try and pass the final semester exam. I mean, hey, they've watched and made observations. It should be a snap. There's no real involvment needed. I was raised and I "turned out".

[eagle]

And there are people out there that don't have kids but can probably do a better job than some parents especially the ones who are dope addicts or abuse alcohol right in front of their kids and abuse them. I wouldn't even trust these people with having pets. But that's just my opinion.

[bob]

And there are people out there that don't have kids but can probably do a better job than some parents especially the ones who are dope addicts or abuse alcohol right in front of their kids and abuse them. I wouldn't even trust these people with having pets. But that's just my opinion.

That is what Child protective services and foster care deal with.
They try to place them with family that has no major problems but sometimes their better off with another set of parents - even if those that never had kids.

[heyhey]

I dearly love the preface "I don't have any kids of myown, but I...." and they go on to detail all they know about kids. They should drop by a thermodynamics class every few days and check in on what the students are doing. Then let them try and pass the final semester exam. I mean, hey, they've watched and made observations. It should be a snap. There's no real involvment needed. I was raised and I "turned out".


THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU I COULD KISS YOU!!!

Brilliantly put.

Now all you guys without kids who freely and without request offer your two cents on the subjects need to get this straight.
go read the thread about children in restaurants...

[Kuch]

I think the only guy on this site without any offspring is Alex, and I haven't heard him give any advice.