Parents can be embarrassing? Who knew? ENERGUIDE ELLED CANADA GRANT Wednesday, September 20, 2006 · Page 9 ANC ELECTRICITY C prices&still on the rise! GAS you can upgrade to a 2-STAGE FURNACE and 2-STAGE THERMOSTAT at If you change your furnace and air conditioner before October 1, 2006 NO EXTRA CHARGE! (UP TO $350 VALUE) ($350 VALUE) R ecently, a 36-year-old single music you like, the job you have, the mother of three from London, irritating habit you have of prefacing Ont., Roxanne Toussaint, decidmost of your conversations with, ed that she had had enough of her chil"When I was your age..." or that unfordren's inconsiderate behaviour. She tunate and regrettable karaoke and hammered a placard breakdancing exhibiinto her front lawn that tion at last summer's said "Mom on Strike" family reunion. and pitched a tent The point is that beside it where she embarrassing your chilintended to stay until dren is easy. No trainthe matter reached a ing is required and negotiated settlement. you'll never run out of Evidently Ms. material. But, and here Toussaint's offspring, a is where Ms. Toussaint 14-year-old boy and should be particularly his two sisters, ages 10 cautious, when applied and 6, have difficulty intentionally, is it an sharing (of two pizzas effective way to modify for dinner, all behaviour? they left for her According to her, was a "thin little "Sometimes it measly piece") takes a bit of randy chedour and refuse to tough love but help out around the really I think first they house with chores. As a result the deserve a bit of embarrassment." If kitchen sink is filled with dirty dishes, that's what they "deserve", then they their rooms are a mess and bicycle parts have been amply rewarded. Media and tools litter the backyard. In an attention has turned their lives into a effort to bring these non-compliant chil- circus. dren onside with her requests for assisAfter nearly a week, Ms. Toussaint tance, Mom has opted to exercise her let it be known that the family had constitutional right to protest and is come to an agreement and the strike unwilling to back down until the miswas over. One wonders if Mom grew creants agree to sign a document laying weary of sleeping in a tent or if the kids out detailed plans to re-distribute chores chose capitulation as a means of getting more equitably and to resolve family the satellite truck out of their driveway. arguments amicably. Either way one week seems hardly an Some would argue that Ms. Toussaint adequate amount of time for either side has only done what all parents may to have "seen the light". If the chilhave, at one time or another, threatened dren's post-strike behaviours do change to do and that, because she is still buyand the Toussaint household becomes at ing groceries and has a phone with her once harmonious, industrious and at all times, she is in no way being peaceful, then perhaps it will all have "abusive". Others may disagree. been worthwhile. My guess is that any What is indisputable, however, is that behavioural change will be short-lived Ms. Toussaint aims to change her chiland that Mom soon will be dusting off dren's behaviour through public embarher picket sign once again. rassment. Had she not been interested in Ms. Toussaint's children are probably attracting local and national media not going to be traumatized for life over attention, she could just as easily have their mother's publicity stunt. They are erected her protest sign and tent in the also not likely to become better and backyard. That wouldn't do, however, more co-operative family members as a since her stated goal was, first and fore- long-term result. We embarrass our most, to embarrass her children. She children enough without any willful went so far as to admit to this when she attempt. Do we have to do it both intentold the Toronto Star, "I don't know any tionally and publicly? kids who are not embarrassed by their I think that all adults parents, teachparents." ers and others in positions of trust and Well, she got that right. Most parents authority should use public embarrassare able to achieve that noteworthy goal ment minimally and judiciously. Some without even trying. Having been one young people may be able to laugh it of the primary sources of embarrassoff, but we should be aware that others ment for my own children over the might find the cumulative effect of years, I can state unequivocally that it is repeated embarrassments to be devastatnot hard to do. You don't have to work ing. One need look no further than at it because, at some point in every recent news to find examples of kids child's upbringing, they will reach a who may have been embarrassed, intimpoint where virtually everything their idated or bullied once too often and parents do, or say, will result in their some, in extreme cases, have lashed out public humiliation. It could be the way with tragic and lethal consequences. Is you answer the phone when their public embarrassment as a means of altering behaviour really worth the risk? friends call, the clothes you wear, the 733-5832 FREE ESTIMATE CALL NOW FOR A 147 LANSDOWNE AVE., KINGSVILLE 733-4751 All Print Classified ads appear on our website at no additional cost! www.essexfreepress.reinvented.net i've got issues SEPTEMBER 8TH - OCTOBER 2ND Valid from September 8 - October 2, 2006 on selected styles! Valid from September 8 - October 2, 2006 on selected styles! Valid from September 8 - October 2, 2006 on selected styles! 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