tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2364362406345742956.post6741106085471179545..comments2023-10-23T09:23:05.584-05:00Comments on Live Oaks: The "Self-Absorbed" GenerationBrian Phillipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06604845862020723068noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2364362406345742956.post-65048956997694766252009-11-24T10:03:12.391-06:002009-11-24T10:03:12.391-06:00Jenn--Thanks for your comments. I do not get much ...Jenn--Thanks for your comments. I do not get much exposure to young children with parents who aren't cramming altruism down their throats. I suspect that your methods will result in children who are properly "self-absorbed".Brian Phillipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06604845862020723068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2364362406345742956.post-26721545659072426952009-11-24T07:44:16.016-06:002009-11-24T07:44:16.016-06:00Nice post! One of the things I'm trying to do ...Nice post! One of the things I'm trying to do as a parent is not quash my kids' sense of selfishness, but rather help them recognize that others have rights, too, and that taking care of themselves in the long-run is a good thing to do. In other words, I'm trying to help them put the "rational" into rational self-interest. :o)<br /><br />Because my husband and I think that it's okay for our children to have selfish needs, we parent a little differently from many parents we know. We don't force sharing (but we do help negotiate turn-taking). We don't force someone to play a game they don't want to, using guilt as the weapon (but we do ask that they let the other kid know if there's a change of mind). We don't set arbitrary time limits on the use of toys or tools (but we let them know someone else is waiting for a turn, so to be sure to let someone know when they are finished).<br /><br />Those are but a few examples of how we aren't modeling/forcing altruistic sentiments and behaviors on our kids. At the same time, they aren't unaware of the affect their actions have on others. The difference is that there's no guilt trip or actual forcing to do something (or give up a toy, etc.) because of someone else's wishes.<br /><br />Hoping it pays off! :DJenn Caseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07849654785544313839noreply@blogger.com