The bloody kids. Raising a child.

To become a parent is an awesome experience. I am a proud father of one daughter and two sons. Apart from this, after I got remarried, I have been taking some responsibility for my wife's two daughters. I believe they all will be alright. Looks like it. 

I consider myself a pretty good dad nowadays. So I thought I write this down. These are rules which has worked for me. They are five simple rules:

1. Remain friendly to your wife. If you or she has a need to complain about the other, take this matter elsewhere, away from the kids. 
2. Don't bring a lot of gifts to your kid. It will do to give him/her the very useful stuff.
3. Do not allow computer games or TV-games in your home. Just refuse them.
4. Insist that the child will do regular duties in your home.
5. Don't bring much sugar to your home. Soft drinks and candy to a minimum.

#2, 3 and 5 are easy. Computer games are, I think, a terrible invention which takes us to a level of being stupid button pushers. Of course this also goes for adults. I have met kids who play a lot of games on the computer. I find it hard to get any real contact with those kids. I get a feeling that their minds are going "beep" and "blip" while they pretend that they are there eating or listening to you.

I heard someone say that computer games are good because you enhance your reflexes. Give me a break! I say it takes the kid away from reality. Let the kids solve real life problems! Let him create a real life for himself!

#1 is tougher. Both has to work on it. Your kids will feel much safer and this will help them..

#4 can sometimes be difficult but if you persist you will save your kid away from a rotten life. And while the kid is living with you, he/she will feel a lot better.

I will be happy to reply to any mail you want to send me regarding this: stefan@tunedal.com

Tunedal
8 nov 2002