For every action, there's a re-action!

Well, to me, it's always the same pattern emerging. Whether it's tv or pc or toys. The grass is always greener on the other side.
And I think this is what happens here.

I think because DS was always too busy with his electronic media that he doesn't have time to play with any of his toys, that so much so when he's in someone else's home, he's binging on thier toys. Just as any kids whose home either have no tv or is allowed very limited tv time, will naturally binge on our tv. Of which the parents is very quick to cite this situation as an example why they don't allow tv, as the kid will get stuck to the screen.

As for doing everything they are not allowed to, well DS's friends (my kid's 7 and these friends are 9 and 10 and been to Steiner school and is now HEing) who seems to think it's cool to say all those bad words (because they were not allow to say them when they were at thier home), needless to say my son follow suit until I pointed out what he was doing and leave it to him to decide how he should behave. After a while of glorious swearing, the fun's ran out and son's decided that those words were rude and is "not nice" (Direct result of our many discussions while playing Grand Theft Auto, with many "translation" what those swear words meant). He has since taken to remind his friends not to say it, as there is no reason to (well, for DS yes-no reason for it, but for his friends, I believe they are expelling thier frustration of being clamp-dowm (or up, should I say) most of the time, so hence the need for such "verbal detox". Again, swearing give them a sense of control and power over thier lives, because for a short while, they are able to say and do what they are normally not allowed, it's called re-action, or for a better word "rebellion"! A very loud and liberating feeling for them, but not so for my poor ears!

These same boys will get stuck infront of the PS2 the minute they arrive, playing alot of the 15+ games that they are normally not allowed, and will try very hard to get my son to convince me to allow them to play with the couple "18+ games that they are most definetely not allowed" that I've put out of reach. My answer is always "Call your mum, if she says yes, then it's yes with me" and as always, it never went pass that stage. However when my son's turn to go to thier house, my son is not interested in thier Xbox at all (understandable as they only have 2 games, a racing game and a skateboarding one, both of which my son have no interest in). He prefer to play with thier toy.


As for doing everything they are not allowed to, well DS's friends (my kid's 7 and these friends are 9 and 10 and been to Steiner school and is now HEing) who seems to think it's cool to say all those bad words (because they were not allow to say them when they were at thier home), needless to say my son follow suit until I pointed out what he was doing and leave it to him to decide how he should behave. After a while of glorious swearing, the fun's ran out and son's decided that those words were rude and is "not nice" (Direct result of our many discussions while playing Grand Theft Auto, with many "translation" what those swear words meant). He has since taken to remind his friends not to say it, as there is no reason to (well, for DS yes-no reason for it, but for his friends, I believe they are expelling thier frustration of being clamp-dowm (or up, should I say) most of the time, so hence the need for such "verbal detox". Again, swearing give them a sense of control and power over thier lives, because for a short while, they are able to say and do what they are normally not allowed, it's called re-action, or for a better word "rebellion"! A very loud and liberating feeling for them, but not so for my poor ears!