Raising a kid

[verbatim]

Originally posted by dhamsaic
Positive reinforcement is certainly the best way to keep a kid on track.... As they get older, tell them that they're doing a good job. There is nothing like hearing that from someone you look up to and respect... When he does a good job, tell him. Not only that, but make sure he understands it. When he brings home a 4.0 report card in ninth grade, sit him down, smile at him and say "I want you to know that I'm more proud of you than anything else in my entire life. You did a damn good job and I'm proud of you."

I didnt get any reinforcement too strongly either direction. I mean my parents did a good job raising me, they gave me a great set of standards and morals and a good basis for behavior, but there was never that element of "good job, Evan" or "you really fucked up this time."

What my parents did was teach by consequenses. Sure, what I did now seemed funny, but it really came around to bite me in the ass later. It was great the way they were able to hold off punishing me, and just sit on their hands long enough for me to realize what I had done wrong. And the same goes for the other way, when I did something good, there was the initial "congradutalions," but then the subject was soon dropped. Its great, it truly is, because it teaches you to live long term. You realize that things you do are gonna either help you or hurt you later, and although that things are peachy/sucky now, things change later depending on what you do. (Heh, praise about living in the future coming from a guy who takes the day-to-day attitude about everything :) )