Working in the Parks I see a lot of parents dealing with their children. It can be a pretty tough balance of disciplining and letting children enjoy themselves but not get too far out of control. They put in long days without much rest. So many distractions and desires out there assaulting them from every direction. And when you have two or more kids wanting to do the same thing at the same time it can be a tough thing to balance who goes first and when it's time to share.
I was taking photos at the Speeder Bike by Star Tours one day last week when a family came up with two children, a girl about 4 and a boy about 6. They both wanted on the Bike and Mom was going to take their photo together. Their names were Carson and Kylie. (At first I wasn't sure which was which). But the girl started whining that she wanted her own photo as the boy started getting on. The Mom was willing to do this so told them to take turns. I wasn't paying much attention until I started hearing "Carson if you can't cooperate then you can't get your picture." In my mind I thought good for Mom. But was thinking Carson was the boy because it looked like he was trying to get on. The girl was still fussing. Then I saw Dad come over and pick up the girl off the Bike and walk off with her, starting to cry, and the boy hopped on the Bike. He got his photo taken and off they went.
I was pretty impressed at how the Mom put the rules out there, even though I got lost in who was causing the trouble, and Dad followed allowing and they carried through together on the discipline. Both children will learn from that experience.
It was a much better than the one I witnessed last night at Downtown Disney. A little girl came up next to me by some ornaments, she too was about 4 years old. Mom came up by her and told her not to touch them. The little girl touched them and Mom said "what did I just tell you?" The little girl said nothing but proceeded to pick it up. Mom repeated what she said. Then she looked at the ornament with the little girl and said how pretty it was and walked away with the ornament in the little girls hand. The lesson that little girl learned was that it doesn't matter what Mom says, she can do what she wants.
I know both are on vacation and it may not be typical of the second Mom to do this but consistency is a much better teacher in the long run and for the duration of that vacation.
Ah well, I'm done with all that. I get to spoil grandkids now!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment