This semester I've been babysitting a couple cute kids, aged 3 and a year and a half while their mom goes to class 3 afternoons a week. We meet at the Institute there on campus, and then she goes to class and I have the kids for an hour or 2.

Even after a semester, they know that begging me does no good, but they still beg their mom. After a semester they know that they need to stay close to me or at least keep me after them, but they still run away from their mom. She doesn't believe in "being hard on kids", and I can't do anything about that, but I expect her kids to respect me and to obey, and they are learning. Slowly, but still learning. It's my opinion that kids should rarely be spoiled. First of all, they appreciate it so much better when they are given something, and secondly they know that you don't always have things the way you want to have them, and sometimes listening to the advice and warnings of others is helpful. I don't have to keep a strong hold of the kids anymore when we walk to my house because they know that they shouldn't walk on the street alone. Also, they no longer complain when I hold onto their hands to cross the street. They beg to walk to my house (it's less than 1/4 mile) and are good the whole time (well, at least most of the time), as opposed to the first couple times when I decided that it was too much hassle. I discovered their new obedience when I had to go home and get my homework off of my computer and I was taking care of the kids. They still aren't obedient all the time, but what normal kids are? They are still discovering that they are people too, and I hope they are learning that they should respect people. We can still have a ton of fun and enjoy running around scaring people (boo!) and helping people push the button on the water fountain, taking turns going upside down. But they are also learning how to obey, in a way that they still run to me with big hugs when I get there to babysit. It's less frustrating for me and the kids, and I'm going to miss them when their mom graduates.

I'm not a parent, but my fiance and I have been taking notes on how we want to raise our kids based on taking care of those kids this semester.  Hopefully we can remember everything and apply it well.

-- Edited by glumirk at 10:58, 2007-04-24

That does look like a good book, Ray.  Glenn Latham's wife used to be our landlady back in our Logan days.  Never did meet him, though. 

Thanks everyone. Well, after a lot of research, prayer, and talking to friends I ordered "The Power of Positive Parenting", "Fathers as Patriarchs", and "Stop Struggling, Start Parenting". Hopefully these books along with a couple of marriage/family books they can figure it out together.