Welcome to Kidcatraz!

Out of jailKIDCATRAZ is the inescapable feelings, emotions, and behaviors that accompany parenthood.  This blog is not designed to help you escape, because you never will. The purpose of the blog is to provide techniques, strategies, and coping skills necessary for survival.  Not your survival, but the survival of your children.

Share it now!

10 Comments

on “Welcome to Kidcatraz!
10 Comments on “Welcome to Kidcatraz!
    • Parole Request #1 Stick a Fork in it

      You can stick a fork in it, but you’re not done until they say you’re done. Sometimes you can do everything right and still not win. Your child can get good academic and citizenship grades in school, always respect her/himself and others, and pursue a legitimate career only to find out that life got in the way of their plans. The economy took a dive and took the promised job with it, the life partner turned out to be someone who was raised by wolves, or the car that they spent their life savings on turned out to be a hunk of junk. When life hands our children lemons, and they have done everything possible to become productive citizens, it is our duty, our responsibility to help them turn lemon into lemon aide, NO MATTER WHAT AGE.

    • Parole Request #1 Stick a Fork in it

      You can stick a fork in it, but you’re not done until they say you’re done. Sometimes you can do everything right and still not win. Your child can get good academic and citizenship grades in school, always respect her/himself and others, and pursue a legitimate career only to find out that life got in the way of their plans. The economy took a dive and took the promised job with it, the life partner turned out to be someone who was raised by wolves, or the car that they spent their life savings on turned out to be a hunk of junk. When life hands our children lemons, and they have done everything possible to become productive citizens, it is our duty, our responsibility to help them turn lemon into lemon aide, NO MATTER WHAT AGE.

  1. Thank you Dr J. I believe parents can only do what they are willing and capable of doing. Parents can make the decision when they are done. Children should not presume they can do whatever because they know their parents will ALWAYS be there, i.e., leave a perfectly good job, get a new car they cannot afford, live beyond their means, quit school. Please clarify the parameters.

  2. Parole Request #2 Oxymoron

    Parenting and parameters, that’s got to be an oxymoron. In terms of parenting, everything is relative. Parenting is a form of “situational leadership.” Here’ my take. I do believe there comes a time when, we as parents can say “I love you, but enough is enough.” But, that time must be child and situation specific. There is no general rule. On the other hand, don’t be guilted into thinking that you owe your adult children a living, YOU DON’T! When you provide support that is above and beyond for that adult you need to communicate the fact that you are providing assistance out of the goodness of your heart and not because of a debt owed. And, don’t be afraid to ask for reimbursement! My grandmother bought me a car when I was a junior in college. She said you can pay me back after you graduate and get your first job. In my head I was thinking, yeah right, she wouldn’t dare take money from me. She was waiting for me, hands out (not for a hug) when I got my first paycheck. Her hand stayed out until she was paid off. Was I shocked, absolutely, did I resent her for it, absolutely, did I love her any less, NO! Miss you YaYa.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

Heads up! You are attempting to upload an invalid image. If saved, this image will not display with your comment.