Article Contributed on: 3/20/2007 11:43:28 PM
One of the things I try to remind myself is that my children are constantly learning from whatever source we present to them. If it's TV, then they'll not only learn
Spongebob dialog but will adapt a
Patrick accent as well. Once in school I expect them to adopt some number of their teacher's mannerisms, but I will - in all likelihood - fight vigorously against their acceptance of her political beliefs.
For such is the way of my world...
But as an adoptive parent I'm left to unravel a really, really tangled knot: That is, what happened to my firstborn son and how am I best to react to him in a way that causes no further damage?
Perhaps the beauty of that question lies within the simplicity of the answer: My only, best, most available answer is to just let him be him. If he's a child who goes days without eating? If he's one who seeks out punishment by testing limits with which he's well acquainted? If he's faced with the prospect of sitting in Daddy's chair when Mommy seems at least partially available?
So be it. He'll suffer the consequences to whatever level we're able to act - depending on how much we're enjoying his 'ACT' at the time.
It's a new definition and he hasn't yet suffered any, but we've stuck to the rules. So it's bound to happen sooner or later...
Chris Stone is a slightly different - hopefully better - Father and and man than he was yesterday...