Would you do THAT in La Louvre?

Did you hear in the news today about the parents whose children were climbing on an exhibit in an art museum?  While we don’t know exactly what happened, I suspect the parents  were  either distracted, zoned out , thought this behavior was acceptable or perhaps had simply given up. 

My body physically reacted to the report.  I made a strange sound like, “Blllllaaaaaa” which meant, “What is HAPPENING to our CHILDREN?!” 

But wait, it’s not the kids …… IT’S  THE PARENTS! 

It appears that parents (based on my broad observational experiences over the last 25 years) have slowly  lost sight of  the importance of keeping some VERY simple guidelines at the FOREFRONT  of ALL parenting moments: 

Children need to know their place.

Children need rules and boundaries.  This will NOT damage their self worth.

Children need to do as they’re told.

Children need to be taught how to behave based on the environment/circumstance.

For instance, when we pull up to the library, I remind my children, “We’re heading into the library so you need to use quiet whisper voices.”    When we are on our way to a restaurant, I say, “Use your inside voices and be sure that your energy is calm.”  Once inside, I keep an eye on their behavior. I give non verbal cues or talk to a child in a low voice.   Is this kind of a pain in the neck?  Yes, sometimes it is, but ….. IT IS MY JOB!!!

Okay, to some of you, these constant reminders may seem unnecessary or a pain in the neck to remember, but………….It is your DUTY to teach your children how to move in our world.  It’s also a GIFT to them because they will be well liked and admired for their outstanding behavior and impeccable manners. Guaranteed.

I strongly encourage you to do some self-examination:  Do I feel like I’m in charge?  Am I reacting to poor behavior versus being pro-active?  Do my children receive compliments frequently (from strangers, teachers, child care providers)?    

Now, back to the news!