Aloe Vera and your kids

SINGULAR SUBJECTS Eat it up! Notes from a "Jamaica Newspaper"

Published: Monday | April 20, 2009

The Soloist, Contributor

I touched a few nerves last week with my views about raising our children to be lazy and helpless. Bravo to parents who don't treat their children like Dresden china. Like my granny always said, being industrious never hurt anyone.

Now this week it is my intention to make even more parents mad because they are allowing children to have a choice in what is cooked and served at home. We are not talking paying customers in a restaurant, nor adult contributors to the home budget. They are minors being cared for by hard-working adults. Seems like in an effort to provide our children with all the things we were deprived of as children, we have ended up spoiling them rotten. As far as I am concerned, anyone I am financially responsible for, under age 18, has limited rights.

Fact: Children are wise and smart creatures who watch you like a hawk and manipulate you when you are vulnerable. They know when to strike because they study your behaviour pattern, so they know that your 'no', invariably, means 'yes'.

Cave in just one time when the three-year-old brat says "I don't like orange juice", turns over the cup, spills it and clamps his jaw shut while you panic and clean it up and he will try it again. If he then gets you to pour him his favourite soda, you are dead meat.

If, on the other hand, you make that budding terrorist apologise, clean up his own mess, pour him some more orange juice and make him drink it because you know damn well it's good for him, chances are, he won't try that little stunt again. As for children's habit of eating next door, things they won't eat at home (and loving it), you have to take mental notes when this happens and insist that they eat that dish at home too. You have to lay ground rules like no fast-food except for special treats or when you are tired of cooking after 15 days in a row.

Family values

Remember, parenting does not end at meal times. It's your show and many times it's the only chance you get to instil other family values. This is the one time you get to be a dictator and not be charged for crimes against humanity or treason. Feed the little monsters all the vegetables from A-Z, and back again. Let them learn to love at least 10 Jamaican-grown fruits of all shapes and sizes. Stop wasting money on imported fruits. Make vitamins, proteins and all other nutrients a religion in your home.

As for the supermarket, put back on the shelves every junk they put in the trolley; it's your money. Let them bawl, this is Jamaica, no cop will come and haul you off to jail, and the child will stop the ruckus when he's tired. And, no, it's not abuse, it's tough love. Back it up with liberal doses of wash-out, cod liver oil and fresh aloe vera. You will waste less money at the doctor and, in 20 years, they will thank you for it. I certainly thank my parents.

lifestyle@gleanerjm.com







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