Better Late than Early, part 2

Well I read the second half, then I put off sharing what I read for ages. Because it was just as boring, only with an added 'we know it all here' tone.

The authors set about to give ideas of what to do with your kid since you are not going to school. Most of the ideas are fairly good. But the very first chapter turned me off with their ideas on sleeping. While I am not truly an attachment never let them fuss parent. I also refuse to be a cry it out parent.

The entire tone of 'trust us we know your kid should just cry' is very irritating. I have never had more than a minor trouble suggesting my kids no longer fit in my bed, all but the newest sleep fine in their own beds for the most part. Making them cry at 4-6 months for however long doesn't seem like a better fit than a long week of taking them back to bed a million times when they are between 1 and 2.

The rest of the chapters maintain the tone, the authors know it all and you just need a laundry list. I am sure they meant well, and I bet they even will acknowledge their own errors in real life. Apparently putting them in print would have been to hard. The only mention of their child (singular, never read of more than one) are all examples of how children find chores easy, or greeting folks adorable. While I have a precocious kid who will prolly be a 4 year old in love with greeting folk. I also have 3 others who must warm up to folk before they will utter a single word.

I got the feeling the authors were a little like me before I had kids. Back then I knew it all, I knew just the perfect way to deal with any kid problem, no matter how big. After 5 kids I can assure you I really don't know what I am doing. Sure plenty of problems have been solved, even a few on my first try. That was pure dumb luck!

Regardless of their tone, most of the ideas are rather good, though presented at breakneck speed. Plenty of suggestions on getting kids involved in the work of the house, or talking to them while you do your own chores. But nothing you can't find elsewhere in a nicer way.