Hi,

Oscar is only 5 years old and already he knows what respect and discipline are. OK so he has his naughty moments but he gets a time out.

I do lots of stuff with plasticine and play doh with him, lots of extra reading and writing to help with his school work (not just homework that's set for him), lots of puzzles, games (word and number games) etc and you know what he likes best?.........Cooking! Baking cakes or making pancakes in particular is something he goes mad for.

He also does "his" chores around the house. Now obviously my housework is my responsibility - evne moreso when the 4 dogs spend much of the day running aout in what is now a muddy swamp (used to be my lawn!) and then decide to spread the mud from the bodies and feet all over the living room.

Oscar loves to polish, wipe surfaces over, and wash up. He enjoys vacuuming too but his arms get tired. OK so it takes 5 times as long to do anything when he helps me and usually I have to do it all again when he's either at school, with his Dad or in bed asleep. But it doesn't matter. I know he's happy. He likes to help. It gives him a sense of pride and achievement and I'm very proud of the person he's growing up to be.

I agree though that nowadays people are more concerned with having flashy cars, big houses, lots of money etc and at the end of the day it means nothing and cannot be compared to growing up with morals, discipline, manners and most of all, love.

I'd love to own a 7 bedroomed house out in the Country somewhere, with it's own private road. I'd love to own a big Mercedes to use at the weekend with an Audi to run about in during the week and a big MPV with the seats removed to fit all the dogs in at the same time. I'd think it was great if I could go on holiday for a month at a time to the Bahamas and had holiday homes in the Caribbean and Southerm Europe.
But for me, all these things are just show. Many people who have these things seem to want to take the emphasis away from their family, as though they have something to hide. An attitude of "look at what I've got" seems to prevail rather than "these are my kids/family".

There don't seem to be any family values any more. I was brought up with values from my mother's side of the family (Sicilian/Italian, strictly Roman Catholic) where we have a head of the family (my grandmother) and woe betide anyone who went against what she said. Even for me, certain things seemed very old fashioned but I'm pleased I was raised this way. But growing up, it was evident that in my year group at school (and the kids from other year groups I knew) practically nobody else was raised with any sense of right from wrong, discipline or common courtesy.

Laura xx

I`m sorry, but I find the above statements simply incredible.

So what you and Hectorsmum, are saying if you work hard to achieve all the above, you are not a good parent, and it follows naturally that you have not taught your kids any discipline /manners/morals/

I`m baffled

Personally I think she has it spot on, she is a no nonsense attitude and from what I have seen has a lot to offer those parents who have no idea on how to be a parent.

And, let's face it, how many of us actually know how to be a parent initially? You learn as you go along!

And, let's face it, how many of us actually know how to be a parent initially? You learn as you go along!

I`m sorry, but I find the above statements simply incredible.

So what you and Hectorsmum, are saying if you work hard to achieve all the above, you are not a good parent, and it follows naturally that you have not taught your kids any discipline /manners/morals/

I`m baffled