Comments on: A Good Fable Never Fails to Terrorize

By: Trece

Trece — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 00:29:55 +0000

OMG!!! When I got to the explanation, I laughed so hard I almost peed myself!! Just further proof that kids are a lot smarter than we give them credit for being.

I also loved the description of bling and accoutrements for the test. Fashionista-ina!

By: Prahlad

Prahlad — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 22:05:27 +0000

“If you want to see what children can do,
you must stop giving them things.”
(Norman Douglas)

By: Kymeco

Kymeco — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:37:03 +0000

Kids….gotta love em’!!

By: Annabel

Annabel — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 11:53:05 +0000

@John, thanks for responding. I think you were on to something in giving people the benefit of the doubt as far as their intentions, though I also like the preventative heckling. As far as taking the best and heaping the rest, I'm totally with you there. I read (and continue to read) a ton of parenting books and did just that. Fortunately, I also have friends with older kids whose wisdom I respect. Interestingly, they're the last people who would ever offer unsolicited advice. They've also helped me learn to put things in perspectve as far as the guilt goes.

By: Dave Doolin

Dave Doolin — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 01:45:30 +0000

@Ronna, I agree. Fables. Huge. Oprah worthy.

By: Justin Matthews

Justin Matthews — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 21:36:34 +0000

I know the bad parent feeling well…my daughter broke her arm and because she didn’t complain it was 2 weeks before we even noticed! She then had to have it pinned in surgery to fix it. I felt very much bad…Glad your daughter is just a character.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 18:06:15 +0000

I’m glad that you’re back to talking about your kids. Sophie is what swept me into your blog in the first place. For all her quiet grace (in person), she’s still a real firecracker. I’ve seen you as a mama first hand. You’re pretty amazing, lady. You give me hope that when I have babies, I might be able to handle myself.

By: Carlos Velez

Carlos Velez — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:59:30 +0000

You poor thing, what an emotional rollercoaster. Your daughter is absolutely adorable. If she keeps up that kind of wit and cleverness, she’s going to have to start blogging real soon. Better go buy her domain name

By: ...love Maegan

...love Maegan — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 16:13:46 +0000

omg the cutest story ever.

By: Kelly Diels

Kelly Diels — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:52:32 +0000

@Prahlad, I think the two of you have touched on something wildly important.

Suffering.

This is huge.

The urge to protect, shelter, nurture, and insulate my children from harm is at war with the urge to allow them to experience difficulty and problem-solve.

I’m convinced that these two things – unconditional love and the personal competence are the essential to living life well (as children and as adults).

Yet navigating these poles is a challenge. The urge to protect can frustrate the urge to allow kids to run smack into challenges and resolve them.

And judgement – the kind we place on ourselves and the kind that is fed to us, constantly, with every breath. Wow. That’s another post altogether.