The Two Basic Rules of the House

[M.D. Holloway]

The Two Basic Rules of the House


Realizing I was making life complicated with the kiddos pertaining to rules and such, I laid it on the line a few weeks ago. I has worked out real well so far.

“There are only two rules you kids have to follow. They are very simple. You are both very smart and I trust you will not only understand them but follow them as well.

#1: You must do everything Mom or Dad says to do. That includes behavior as well as tasks. If we tell you not to steal, lie, cheat, kill, or covert – no doing. If we say to make your bed, put you trash in the bin or clear the table – you do it.

#2: No back talk. That means no wise comments or ridiculous pleading. No is no.

“What is is. Now, you can ask questions and questions are always encouraged unless they are construed by your Mother or me to break rule #2. Then you will suffer the wrath. I won’t ask if you understand because I know you do.”

[livi]

I humbly bid you Good Luck with that!

Those rules have been enforced and ignored a hundred times with my kids. It usually lasts a couple of hours each time.

[gchappel]

We had two unwritten rules that worked pretty well.
First- ALWAYS agree with your spouse on children issues- and it has to go both ways. You cannot let them see weakness, or they will divide and conquer.
Second- Learn to pick your battles. You will win some, you will lose some- like in any relationship. With your kids you get to pick which ones you win. Pick the important stuff.

We also had 2 rules for teenage drivers. My 2 have had one fender bender in 15 driver years following these:
1. No alcohol.
2. Two solid objects cannot occupy the same space at the same time.

Good luck.
Gary

[Moses]

Mike, how is that different than "STFU and do what I tell you to do!" ?

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Moses

Mike, how is that different than "STFU and do what I tell you to do!" ?

It's more polite...

[MRM]

Polite and respectful are two important characteristics in how you tell the wee ones to STFU and do as they are told. They are kids, so their job is to do as they are told and learn from their experiences until they gain the experience and judgment to do things on their own. In the mean time, they don't get a vote in the matter. Being polite and respectful in explaining the situation creates well behaved, polite and respectul young adults, and then polite and respectful adults. Even if the bottom line is that they are being told to be quiet and do as they are told. So, as she says, technique does count.

[svandamme]

it cleans up it's room, or else it get's the hose again

[competentone]

Originally Posted by LubeMaster77

The Two Basic Rules of the House


Realizing I was making life complicated with the kiddos pertaining to rules and such, I laid it on the line a few weeks ago. I has worked out real well so far.

“There are only two rules you kids have to follow. They are very simple. You are both very smart and I trust you will not only understand them but follow them as well.

#1: You must do everything Mom or Dad says to do. That includes behavior as well as tasks. If we tell you not to steal, lie, cheat, kill, or covert – no doing. If we say to make your bed, put you trash in the bin or clear the table – you do it.

#2: No back talk. That means no wise comments or ridiculous pleading. No is no.

“What is is. Now, you can ask questions and questions are always encouraged unless they are construed by your Mother or me to break rule #2. Then you will suffer the wrath. I won’t ask if you understand because I know you do.”

That sounds kind-of "authoritarian."

Depending on how old the children are, you might do better to encourage their intellectual development if you allow them the "right to persuade you with rational argument."

[Jim Bremner]

if it's not your's keep your hand off of it

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by competentone

That sounds kind-of "authoritarian."

Depending on how old the children are, you might do better to encourage their intellectual development if you allow them the "right to persuade you with rational argument."

Really, as it should be. Mike's house, Mike's rules...the kids can set their own rules AFTER they move out...

[DanielDudley]

Originally Posted by svandamme

it cleans up it's room, or else it get's the hose again

That was sure funny, IMO. LMAO

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally Posted by competentone

That sounds kind-of "authoritarian."

Depending on how old the children are, you might do better to encourage their intellectual development if you allow them the "right to persuade you with rational argument."

Darn toot'n fig newton!

The kids are 5 and 9 and have been told the house is not run according to a democracy. It is a dictatorship. Benevolent but a dictatorship nonetheless.

Until they can prove a sound logic stream then they must do as we say and when we say.

Are you from Cali?

[Laneco]

Originally Posted by svandamme

it cleans up it's room, or else it get's the hose again

ROLFLMAO!!!!

angela and steve

[tabs]

I overheard Mother talking to Daddy, "We have to housebreak it before it breaks the house." Since we didin't have a pet at the time, I had to think they were talking about me.