|  We're
moving to another state in a few months. I know itıs going to be
tough for our two children, who have so many friends at school.
How can I get them ready for life in a new city?
Going
to a new school or moving to a new town can be an unpleasant experience
for children, but there are some ways to make it easier for them.
Preparation
and forethought are the keys. Educator Cheri Fuller recommends that
those who are about to relocate call a family meeting to talk about
whatıs going to happen. Begin to lay plans together. Itıs sad to
say goodbye to good friends and itıs hard to make new ones. Try
establishing pen pals for your children in the new school long before
the move is to occur. Relationships can blossom through the mail
so that the kids are not entirely unknown in the new location.
Itıs
also helpful to create curiosity about the new city or neighborhood
youıre moving to. Write to the state tourist bureau or to the chamber
of commerce and ask for brochures and maps. When your children begin
to understand the adventure of moving, they may develop a more positive
attitude toward leaving. A bit of preparation and a healthy dose
of communication can help clear the way for a smoother journey to
a new home.
+ + +
If
punishment is never indicated for an infant, what form of discipline
is appropriate at that age?
The
answer is loving leadership. Parents should have the courage to
do what is right for their babies, even if they protest vigorously.
Dr. Bill Slonecker, a pediatrician and good friend, has stressed
the importance of parents taking charge right from the day of birth.
Too often he has seen mothers in his private practice who were afraid
of their infants. They would call his office and frantically huff,
³My 6-month-old baby is crying and seems very hot.² The doctor would
ask if the child had a fever, to which Mom would reply: ³I donıt
know. He wonıt let me take his temperature.² These mothers had already
yielded their authority to their infants. Some never regain it.
Good
parenting and loving leadership go hand in hand. And it should begin
on Day One.
o
These
are excerpted from books written by Dr. James Dobson of Focus on
the Family.
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