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Strat...
As funky as it is. It is one of the best schools in Jamaica. It has produced many prominent citizens. Guess the day students get the better deal, not having to live in such depressing surroundings.
posted by
word.smith
on September 7, 2005 at 5:56 AM
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Wow! Interesting stuff, Word!
That school sounds like a WPA barracks.
posted by
strat
on September 7, 2005 at 5:44 AM
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Jacenta,
You did well and the lessons have paid off. I believe strongly that young men especially should be taught how to take care of themselves. That way, they are not at the mercy of women in their relationships. Thanks for reading and sharing. 
posted by
word.smith
on September 7, 2005 at 5:17 AM
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Kodachrome, that's true.
The harder the lesson, the less likely it is to be forgotten!
posted by
word.smith
on September 7, 2005 at 5:14 AM
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Amateur,
Good to see you! Truly, we need some of that kind of discipline on this island. Young men are allowed to run free, not make use of their time in school and then, they expect the government to provide for them. I think the earlier we can teach our kids to be responsible, the more rounded they will be when they grow up. Years ago, we had something called the National Youth Service, but I think that has died.
posted by
word.smith
on September 7, 2005 at 5:13 AM
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Argus,
I agree with you. No doubt the boys will be able to fend for themselves if given the opportunity. The school provides three squares, so what they have in their tuck boxes is just extra.
posted by
word.smith
on September 7, 2005 at 5:11 AM
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Original, your 8 y/o has wisdom beyond his years!
posted by
word.smith
on September 7, 2005 at 5:09 AM
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Sounds good Cass and you have the comfort
of knowing that they can take care of themselves.
posted by
word.smith
on September 7, 2005 at 5:08 AM
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Thanks for visiting, Schree!
posted by
word.smith
on September 7, 2005 at 5:07 AM
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Thanks very much, Joe.
I guess that means I'm doing something right!
posted by
word.smith
on September 7, 2005 at 5:06 AM
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Good Morning word.smith,
"All tubs must set on their own bottoms." " Mommy, will not be there to do everything forever." I could not count how many times I told my children these quotes throuhgout the years. I love my children dearly, but I taught them autonomy. I allowed them with persistance to do for themselves and encouraged independence when possible. They are all grown now, and well adjusted men and women who are capable of taking care of their own business. That was my goal, but how I miss the daily sounds of little feet pattering across the floor and fingerprints on the windows and mirrors. Grandchildren visits are grand though, I am truely blessed.
I enjoyed your post. Thanks!
posted by
jacentaOld
on September 7, 2005 at 4:59 AM
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My kids...
I made sure my kids knew how to do laundry (though not to perfection) cook simple meals and clean. When they refused to do their wash I let them run out of clothes and figure it out the hard way. Sometimes the toughest lessons are the ones best learned! :)
posted by
KODACHROME1970
on September 7, 2005 at 4:38 AM
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Jamaica can always try out what we had been doing here for decades - conscription... 
Just pack the boys up when they are in their late teens and send them off to the army. Conscription here begins with a residential boot camp. The lousy food, strict regimentation, fanatical instructors and crappy bunk-mates will definitely teach the boys to get their act together and not take pop and mom for granted.
Boot camp... The decisive method to get your boys to toe the line... fast! 
posted by
Amateur
on September 6, 2005 at 6:53 PM
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Hear, hear, word.
Parents must control their guilt feelings from pushing them to overprotect their kids. They must give the kids some space and time to allow a fundamental principle to work: Necessity is the mother of invention.
posted by
ARGUS
on September 6, 2005 at 9:25 AM
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Recently my a8 year old and I had a conversation in which he told me that some molly coddling is good because it makes the child feel loved. He went on to say that mollycoddling that doesn't allow the child to become resposible is the bad kind. Firtunately, I got a good rating!
posted by
Original_Influence
on September 6, 2005 at 4:21 AM
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Boarding school here is so expensive, it was never an option for us. I'm glad I've taught my boys to cook, clean and wash their clothes. Not that you would know they can do all this...
posted by
Ca88andra
on September 6, 2005 at 3:38 AM
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Hey!! :-) Schree`
posted by
Schree
on September 6, 2005 at 3:01 AM
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Amen
word.smith! I'm beginning to enjoy this blog more and more, every time I visit! Enjoyed your past 2 entries!
posted by
Joe_Love
on September 5, 2005 at 6:56 PM
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You'd be missing them after a while.
posted by
word.smith
on September 5, 2005 at 6:14 PM
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I'm afraid I'd be a spoiler if I'd had kids. I wish they had boarding school for dogs!
posted by
Holy_Grail
on September 5, 2005 at 3:35 PM
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Bright, I guess we learn as we go along,
but it helps to have some kind of plan.
posted by
word.smith
on September 5, 2005 at 2:09 PM
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Just lay low Kat, lay low when the time comes...
posted by
word.smith
on September 5, 2005 at 2:04 PM
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word-smith
Good Post! I've had to experiment with some of my kids .. Sometimes to much and other times not enough.. Somewhere along the way it evened out and luckily my children ( with 2 exceptions) are very self- sufficient. 
posted by
BrightIrish
on September 5, 2005 at 1:40 PM
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Very true Word
I had luck in teaching my oldest son the importance of doing his part and his fiance says he is a great help around the house. My youngest son...oh boy! He isn't involved in a serious relationship yet, but when the time comes, I hope to be nowhere around, lol.
posted by
Katray2
on September 5, 2005 at 1:34 PM
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Kat, I think we all tend to spoil them a little bit
and I believe a little bit is okay. One of my pet peeves is adult men who can't do anything for themselves. It becomes burdensome on a woman when she has one of these guys who has ten thumbs and can't even boil water to save his life. I wouldn't blame a girl for wanting to throttle a mother who doesn't try to help make her son become as self-sufficient as possible.
posted by
word.smith
on September 5, 2005 at 1:24 PM
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McBreeze, sorry didn't see that comment before I
responded the first time. I don't think it's wrong of us to pamper our kids a little bit, but this boy would just chuck his things as he took them off and expect the helper to pick them up. It is now going to be very difficult for him to adjust himself to having so little space and having to keep said space in some semblance of order. He is in for some very interesting times.
posted by
word.smith
on September 5, 2005 at 1:19 PM
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Mcbreeze, I think he's kinda cute too....
posted by
word.smith
on September 5, 2005 at 1:17 PM
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Guilty here too Word
Easy to do when they're small (too easy in my case anyway, lol) but the effects aren't so cute when they grow up. Luckily mine have managed to overcome being rather spoiled as kids without major disaster - just some cold wake-up calls from the outside world.
That elephant is cool.
posted by
Katray2
on September 5, 2005 at 1:07 PM
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Word i do agree with you on this one but i am also guilty.
posted by
mcbreeze
on September 5, 2005 at 12:57 PM
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Word
Just wanted you to know i love your heffalump (elephant) that dances on the side.lol
posted by
mcbreeze
on September 5, 2005 at 12:55 PM
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