| John K. Rosemond Dilemma of the Week: A mom recently told me that her daughter’s first piano recital had been scheduled for the same weekend as her college football team’s bowl game. She got Grannie to go to the recital and she and her husband went to the bowl game. Grannie disapproved of the parents’ decision, but stood in for them anyway. Mom asks, “Did I do the right thing?”
In the interest of full disclosure, I am obligated to tell the reader that I would rather watch a faucet drip than go to a football game. Or a basketball, hockey, or baseball game for that matter. I liberated myself from any interest in sports many years ago, and I am a happier camper as a result. Notwithstanding my cultural heresy, I approve the parents’ decision.
If the child was disappointed, so be it. Into every life some disappointment must fall. Furthermore, everyone needs to learn that it’s not all about them, and the earlier learned, the better. Let’s face it folks, a first piano recital is not in the same class as a Bar Mitzvah or a tonsilectomy. Besides, it may well be that the girl performed better knowing her parents were not watching. And I’m absolutely certain the parents had a better time at the football game, even if their team lost. (At this point, my editor compels me to also disclose that I’d rather go to a football game than to a child’s piano recital.)
Question of the Week: The mother of a preschool boy asks if and how she should discipline him when he is suffering one of his recurrent ear infections. The youngster is generally well-behaved, but is “bad” when he’s in aural discomfort.
My general rule is that if a child is not sick enough to be confined to bed, then normal behavioral expectations and, therefore, normal discipline should prevail. On the other hand, if a child’s physical discomfort does not require bed rest, but causes his behavior to slide downhill, then he ought to be put to bed, thus reducing if not eliminating the need for discipline.
Research Findings of the Week: The Onion, an online publication, reports that a recent study published in The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry concludes that 98 percent of children under age 10 are unrepentant sociopaths who are incapable of empathy, genuine remorse, and will do anything to get their own way. To quote Dr. Leonard Mateo, a developmental psychologist at the University of Minnesota and lead author of the study, “It’s as if they have no concept of anyone but themselves.”
Using the Hare Psychopathy Checklist, a reputable clinical tool, Mateo and his colleagues found that 684 of the 700 children enrolled in the study exhibited such sociopathic characteristics as superficial charm, pathological lying, manipulative behaviors (e.g. whining and tantrums), and a grandiose sense of self.
“The depths of depravity that these tiny psychopaths are capable of reaching are really quite chilling,” commented Mateo.
Of special interest to me was the study’s finding that although any adult is capable of falling for a child’s pathological scheming, grandparents are especially susceptible. Much to our chagrin, my wife and I immediately recognized ourselves and resolve to never again enable our seven grandkids’ anti-social tendencies. To quote the inimitable Peter Townsend, “We won’t be fooled again!”
Notwithstanding that I am unable to find either a Leonard Mateo on the psychology faculty at the University of Minnesota or a record of said study in the archives of said Journal, anyone who has ever lived with children will surely recognize the grain of truth contained in these erzatz findings.
Find more laughs at family psychologist John Rosemond’s website: www.rosemond.com
*About the Author: Rosemond has written nine best-selling parenting books and is one of America's busiest and most popular speakers, known for his sound advice, humor and easy, relaxed, engaging style. In the past few years, John has appeared on numerous national television programs including 20/20, Good Morning America, The View, Bill Maher's Politically Incorrect, Public Eye, The Today Show, CNN, and CBS Later Today.
Click here to visit Rosemond's Web site, www.rosemond.com. |
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H1N1 notepad December 2009
December 21 to December 31 2009
December 21 2009 the Washington Post publishes ‘Vaccine scares‘ and Age Of Autism writes ‘Clive Thompson Calls Questioning Vaccine Safety Decade’s Worst Idea‘.
December 22 COTO Report publishes ‘Former CDC head now leads Merck vaccine division‘.
December 24 Anthrax Vaccine writes ‘In Holland, the Public Face of Flu Takes a Hit/ Science‘ and The Examiner publishes ‘Another H1N1 vaccine recall due to problems with various types of fast-tracked swine flu vaccination’ and UPI writes ‘Most Australians may refuse H1N1 vaccine‘ and The Flu Case writes ‘Why Science and the State Need To Be Kept Separate For The Swine Flu’ and OpEdNews publishes ‘The Council of Foreign Relations Enters the Vaccine Biz‘.
December 25 Natural Solutions Foundation publishes ‘Preventing Merry Disinformation and a Happy New World Order: Please Open: Globalists Bring the War Home‘ and Flu and Vaccine Tidbits writes ‘The Dirty Hidden Secrets of Vaccines‘ and TrustSeek Center publishes ‘The Side of the H1N1 Swine Flu Virus You Will Not Hear in the News’ and Websites writes ‘Medical Doctor Retracts H1N1 Vaccine Advice After Reading Insert!’.
December 11 to December 20 2009
December 12 NHF publishes ‘Forced Vaccinations, Government, and the Public Interest‘.
December 14 LabVirus writes ‘As the H1N1 vaccine is made widely available starting today for the next week in cities throughout the USA, masses line up to be sterilized, paralyzed, irreversibly harmed, and some – killed.’
December 15 ResistNet publishes ‘Agenda 21 is it, you decide - Bioterrorism!‘ and Truth11 writes ‘Why is the Government of Canada running adds for the Flu Vaccine without any warnings | Population Reduction’ and TheFluCase writes ‘Reports of Serious Side Effects For Swine Flu Jab Soar in France. Only Internet Reports’ and Attorney At Law writes ‘H1N1 Vaccine Doses Recalled; May Not Be Strong Enough‘.
December 16 the Examiner writes ‘Several people get GBS after swine flu vaccinations, yet some doses ‘not potent enough’’ and Psyorg writes ‘Bacteria wouldn’t opt for a swine flu shot‘.
December 17 the New York Times publishes ‘Advisers on Vaccines Often Have Conflicts, Report Says’.
December 18 notepad publishing writes ‘What comes next?‘
December 20 Ennahar Online publishes ‘Vaccine against swine flu: a cure or an injection of death!’ and The Chronicle watch writes ‘H1N1 Vaccine; Woman Paralyzed, Babies Dead‘ and the European Union Times writes ‘Germany and Spain seek to cut swine flu vaccine orders as millions refuse to take shot‘ and a video is published ‘Dr. Eisenstein talks about the Flu Vaccines‘.
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