I told my overly aggressive ten year old daughter to leave the room last night as she’d been picking on my four year old. Of course, Paloma, the ten year old, balked and refused to go. I guided her down the hall to her room, closed the door and suggested she rejoin the family when she got herself together. She’d also have to serve a few minutes of time-out for her misbehaviors. Standard practice at my house, some kids sling themselves in time-out before they’re even told to do so, some drag out the consequences for hours, knowing they won’t ever win this... more

One of the most astounding aspects in the adoption of older children, besides the mass destruction of anything and everything, has been the trash.

I walk around outside my house with a Wal-Mart bag, picking up trash that was dropped without any forethought about littering, someone’s possessions, or simply taking care of things.

Especially younger kids who forget it was in their hands anyway and they just drop it on the ground. I’d even implemented a rule about this. “No, you can’t eat that outside,” knowing they’d just throw the wrapper... more