Fatherhood

Unable to speak yet, Patrick defines what he wants in various ways: pointing, grunting, grabbing, yelling, screaming, and recently dropping to the floor and crying or standing in front of me and bouncing with a smile on his face. Most of these behaviors are pretty clear and easy to manage. Often, he gets to play with what he wants or where he wants, barring any unsafe behavior ... on the stove top whether food is cooking or not, under the sink where we store chemicals, near the top of the stairs (unsupervised) ... you get the idea. We love that he has a variety of interests and wants to explore. It's pretty cool to watch him taking all the pots and pans from under the counter and trying to carry them to the front door ... he eventually gets tired using both arms to hold the weight and drags the pot or pan behind him ... very cool! The first few tantrums were kind of scary ... dropping to the floor, face down, and then tears that then raged into something much scarier. Rec...

Self-discipline is a principle that needs to be integrated into one's way of live life.  When it comes time for Patrick to learn learn the lesson, it will likely come as a constant progression through his early years, rather than as an abrupt checkpoint in his life . Self-discipline is not a personality trait or natural gift; it is something that can be encouraged and developed over time. Self-discipline is doing something you don't want to do but know you need to do for a long-term benefit.  Responsible adults generally become that way by choosing to deny the immediate impulses that cross their path and planning a course toward what they hope to achieve. Being committed to raising a responsible child, I must make the effort to teach Patrick self-discipline. I know that there are a few basics when it comes to self-disciple. An individual with self-discipline needs to: Have a Goal. Have opportunity to Practice. Maintain a steady Pace when working to...