Tuesday 14 November 2006

Psst! Want a good training book?

I was wandering around the Internet looking to see if all nations had the same sort of problem we seem to have with our young people. I came across an article where the very early training of children was debated. The author used terms such as “Come to Mama. This simple, cheerful, command was conditioning my tiny baby to come to me in response to my voice” and “When she was still an infant, unable to sit up, I would say, 'Stand Up Gracie' when I lifted her to a standing position”
As I was reading this in the privacy of my own study, I was able to laugh at just how twee and condescending the article was. Then a memory from the past struck me.
When our first children were born, neither of us had any experience of what to do with them. I was an only child. My wife would have been expected to look after her siblings but not whilst they were tiny bundles of sick and excreta. We could not talk to them nor they to us. They had no idea as to how to conduct themselves and needed us to protect them from a hostile environment. So far as children were concerned – I knew nothing.
I did, however, know how to train dogs. Right from the puppy stage through to when they were excessively grown and needed control to prevent them attacking all and sundry. Socialising puppies. Getting them to come and to stay. Speak on command. House training.
So, no problem. The children were trained in the same way as little puppies. Just the same way really as the woman was describing. Seems to have worked. They come when called. They do not attack people. Perhaps I should patent my 'Raising kids to the whistle' method. Make some money because as sure as hell there are a lot of children out there that need a good firm foundation in life.


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