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>Parenting, childraising, one could write books about >it (and many books have been written). I'll try to be >brief. >We're self-employed, both working in an office at >home, two kids of five and seven years now. >Our parenting goal is raising responsible individuals >capable of taking good decisions and finding their own >way, all while having a wonderful childhood they will >remember fondly all life long. >To get there, we don't emphasize obedience and we >don't set an all too narrow path for them to follow. >We do give gentle guidance every day. Talking a lot >about what's right and wrong and why. Not just talking >to them, always listening to their point. And we give >them a choice whenever possible. >Whenever children aren't capable of seeing the >consequences of their decisions, parents will have to >decide for them. So there's no absolute freedom ... >just like in society. >Children won't do what parents say, they will do what >parents do. Parents should always be aware that >children will observe and imitate them. Treat others >as you wish to be treated, treat your children as you >wish your child would treat others. Never do to a >child what you don't want a child to do to anyone else. >We give our kids a lot of freedom, your personal >liberty only ends where it gets in the way of the >freedom of others. >We raised them mostly diaper free because we think it >makes no sense to learn to shit your diaper and then >unlearn just letting loose while you wear something. >Potty training went smoothly, in the summer they went >naked around the house or wore just a T-shirt so there >was nothing in the way when they had to go, in colder >season we gave them "BabyLegs" (legwarmers) instead of >pants allowing them to go bare butt (at home anyway). >They're now pretty free to choose what to wear, at >home they're always barefoot (and most of the year >outside too), they're still ok to go nude before/after >bedtime, we don't believe in taboo there - they do >know certain parts of their body should be covered >outside because of what others think or don't want to >see. >Now we sometimes get surprised looks from others when >our kids play around barefoot "out of season", even on >sunny december days wearing sensible outdoor wear from >ankles up ... They're completely happy doing that and >enjoying the advantages of running around freely, >sneaking quietly, climbing, jumping and feeling their >world better than others. It's a lot easier for us >parents too, no dirty little socks that need to be >washed and sorted, no shoes in the way that will get >too small too quickly! One sensible pair of winter >shoes for each, every winter, that's enough. >They're also free to find their own rhythm of sleep. >Waking up with sunrise, and after they go to bed, us >parents just read silently in the living room without >disturbing them. >Now the older has to live with primary school's >timetable and we're getting her used to adjust to the >rigid timing of when to be at school. >Another important aspect is level of involvement. We >certainly don't micromanage every aspect of a child's >life, though we make proposals and give our ideas. We >try to include an hour of family quality time every >day (more on weekends) when we do what is fun to all, >there's a great variety of that. >Living in a small town allows us to let our children >walk to school on their own and play outside by >themselves without constant supervision. We chose our >home so it's close to school, having to drive them >around would be major headache.

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