OttawaHerald.com -- Community News. Community Connections.

	Franklin County, Kansas, USA

Subscriber Services Home Delivery Gift Subscription Stop-Start Delivery Missing Paper Back Issues Newsstand Locations Shopper Locations

Advertising Services Manage Your Account Place a Classified Ad Place a Display Ad Advertise Online Business Finder Directory

Other Services Submit News Laminated Items Photos & Keepsakes Article Archives Contact Us History of the Herald Our Policies

Suggest a poll topic

2009-11-21

2009-11-18

2009-11-05

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Thursday, October 08, 2009 12:00 PM

MOSS: I’ll show you what’s ‘fair’

It isn’t fair, my daughter complained. I don’t treat her and her brother the same.

“Of course I don’t treat you the same,” I responded. “You’re completely different kids. You’re a 15-year-old girl and he’s a 7-year-old boy.”

She meant, of course, that she thinks I treat her brother better. He has easier chores and more free time. He and I do “fun stuff” like going out to the movies when she spends an entire Saturday at a debate or chess tournament.

“But that’s for school,” she explained, as if that’s reason enough for us to stay home, bored and pining over her absence.

But her complaint gave me an idea.

Or, as Dr. Seuss wrote in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” it gave me “a wonderful, awful idea.”

What if, perhaps, I did treat my kids exactly the same?

My daughter wants to attend a concert of a favorite punk rock band. I like that band, too, but I just don’t think it’s appropriate for a 7-year-old. And if her brother can’t go, neither can she.

That’s fair, right?

Whenever I need to go somewhere, even a quick trip to the store, they’ll both need to come with me or I will have to find a babysitter.

Computer use for both children will be limited to educational work and games, and Internet sites like Cartoon Network. No more Sims. Say goodbye to Facebook and Twitter.

And that cell phone? Forget about it. If her brother starts texting now, he’ll never learn proper spelling. And if he can’t do it, neither can she.

Finally, bedtime will be 8 p.m., the same as her brother.

That’s fair, right?

I explained the new rules and my daughter just gave me “That Look.”

If you’ve ever had or been a teenager, you know “That ‘I can’t believe you’re so stupid. How much longer do I have to put up with this?’ Look.”

She shook her head and walked away, ignoring me and my cleverness.

“Better be careful about your attitude,” I warned. “I’ll have to put you in time out.”

Vickie Moss is Herald public affairs editor. She can reached at vmoss@ottawaherald.com

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article |
Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.

MOSS: I’ll show you what’s ‘fair’

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article | Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article |
Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.