As a parent, you shouldn't feel as if your kids are a handicap for you to do normal activities with them. "Oh, don't take them to the movies, they're only one" or "don't take them to church, they might act out." At what point do you you just stop and listen to the ridiculousness comments that are coming out of your mouth. I'm a parent, a good one for that matter. It's all about teaching kids how to behave. If you don't ever allow your child to experience taking them places where some may feel they shouldn't go, how will they ever learn? Children are like clay, what you teach them or allow them to get by with is how they'll behave. Then, this carries on to their teenage and adult years. Then you'll complain as to why my child is acting out in public. Many times I see parents who take their young children to grocery stores and they're throwing tantrums. Does that mean that you send them to a sitter while you go out to do grocery shopping or out for dinner? Absolutely not! I always hear folk who may say "oh just let them be, they're going through their terrible twos." Rather it's terrible twos or just a phrase they might be going through, toddlers will test their parents to see how much they can get by with. As a parent, we're suppose to correct their negative behavior and reward them for their positive behavior.
What parents do and don't do, say and don't say, provide their children with the experiences that the children interpret into beliefs. Those beliefs, in turn, then determine their behavior and emotions and, ultimately, their lives-for better or for worse.
