no, not too far.
kids should be taught from the get go that #1, this isn't a restaurant. learning to eat what's for dinner is good manners, after all, you don't want jr to go to a friends for dinner and sneer at their offering.
like my dad told me, your kids have to learn good behavior at home, so they don't act up away--how often do you see kids running around acting like crazed banshees at a restaurant? it's cause they do it at home.
kids should be given chores, easier for younger, slightly tougher for older. how else will they learn how to clean up? i read that college kids don't even know how to do their own laundry!
kids are part of the household, and should be part of taking care of it. the best thing you can do is teach your child he is part of all solutions--worst is to raise him that he is a little lord and you and wife his servants.
good luck!
also, kids need routine just like all of us. so whatever routine they learn, good luck changing it!
|