I was listening to Dr. Laura on Friday, and she received a call from a
mother who's mother-in-law was not understanding of the way they were
raising their children.  "I don't know if you've heard of Growing Kids God's
Way?"  she asked.
    Dr. Laura had, and immediately proceeded to how she didn't agree with
the idea of telling a child when to be hungry or tired. She clearly stated
that this is not a new philosophy, it was just recently attributed to God.
The woman emphasized that it was not rigid and if the children weren't
tired, they didn't have to go to sleep "they were just 'guidelines.'"  Dr.
Laura discussed the potential problems for a couple of minutes with her
about teaching a child to watch a clock more than themselves, but then in
her exasperated tone said "tell me about your problem."
    Mother in law didn't understand the frustration of going to visit for
the day because by the time the kids were up and she fed them and drove a
half hour over there, it was time to turn around and put them down for their
naps.  It was great how she again spent time on the rigidity issue and how
relationships are more important.  It was obvious the woman wasn't going to
abandon it all from one phone call, it seemed like she had some stuff to
think about.  Dr. Laura suggested that she follow her "schedule" (with a
slight tone in there letting her know there was still some disapproval) when
she was at home, but when she went out to visit family to put the
relationship over the schedule and let them enjoy each other.
    Hopefully the mother will decide to follow that, and it will open the
door to allowing her to enjoy her children in other ways, without worrying
about the schedule.  Hopefully, she gave others something to think about
also.

Lora Horn
Pasadena, CA
__________________________________

"The services which mothers and fathers habituallly render their children
are so taken for granted that their magnitude is forgotten.  In no other
relationship do human beings place themselves so unreservedly and so
continuously at the disposal of others."      --John Bowlby

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