Friday, January 11, 2008

Back!!!

I am home from the hospital, and things look good. Thanks Caitlin for your prayers. This sugury is kind of hard to explain to Emily who came every day to the hospital. I will have to walk kind of funny for a while but Emily is bringing my assignments from school. Glad to count you as a friend. Miss Anna but Jack says she is involved in a heavy religious discussion on another blog. Jack put that picture of me on again, I am working to get it off. I could not have a better friend than you. Frank

11 comments:

  1. Frank and/or Jack,
    Which blog is Anna discussing heavy religious stuff on? I like to hear what she has to say, though we don't always agree.
    Frank, I am glad you're back home--I hope you're feeling OK? What classes are you taking this semester?
    Caitilin

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  2. Caitilin. Second and Third posts down on Joe's In Today's News. Frank is taking English 2 B, World Culture and Algebra 2. Reduced schedule because of health. Jack, for Frank

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  3. Jack and Frank,

    Thanks! Are you going to post your papers for us again? :)
    Caitilin

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  4. Yes. I will be glad to post them. Thanks for your prayers. I will rememper them!! Frank

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  5. Hi!

    I've been praying for your health, and I'm glad to hear you say things look good. Does that mean you can, indeed, be a family man?

    That's great that Emily is bringing your assignments to you.

    I haven't been that involved in the discussion on Joe's blog. Mostly I've been reading and trying to keep up with other things. I'm reading the Harry Potter series, which are addictively good story-telling, but I'm also reading a book called Hold On To Your Kids, which involves some heavy thinking on my part to try to sort through where I agree and where I disagree with the author. And that one is due back at the library on Sunday.

    God bless,
    Anna

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  6. Anna,
    Do you like the book? I have it on order from the library; the amazon reviews sound good, but I am not a super-big fan of attachment parenting. I don't want to be my kids security blanket. :)
    Peace,
    Caitilin

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  7. Caitlin,

    I have mixed thoughts on the book. It's main message - that kids should be more attached to their parents than to their peers - is something that I can see and think I agree with. His talk about discipline is what I have the most issues with. He is anti-punishment, even in the form of "natural consequences". He is also anti-rewards. He seems to think that punishments and rewards intrinsically weaken the parent-child relationship. I think they can weaken it, but they don't have to. In fact, if done well and in an atmosphere of love, I think they can strengthen the parent-child relationship.

    Other than that, he encourages parents to focus more on their relationship with their child, building rituals into and spontaneously expressing in daily life the unconditional love for the child. I think that's a pretty crucial part of parenting, so I'm all for that.

    One thing that I disliked about the book was the sort of language he used. The word "psychobabble" comes to mind, although there's probably a politer way to say that. (Psychological terminology?) It was easy for me to see how what he was saying fit together with itself, but it was much harder for me to relate any of it back to real life, to translate what he was saying into something meaningful to me.

    So that's my basic review. If I ever find time, I'll give a more in-depth review on my blog.

    God bless,
    Anna

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  8. Anna,

    That is helpful; I like to know what type of book I am getting into with "help" books. I liked the thread you and Daisan were on about discipline; I tend to fall on your side of the questions. :) Maybe you and I and Frank should discuss it, since we seem to be largely in agreement, and I think he likes us OK... :)
    Caitilin

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  9. Caitlin,

    Sure. That would be interesting to discuss discipline with you and Frank. I'm kinda curious what Frank thinks of spanking, considering his "scarlet scars".

    God bless,
    Anna

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  10. Anna Caitlin, I'm little over my head here but here is what I think. There are two kinds of spanking. I will call one shock spanking. That is a spank on the bottom or a firm holding of the childs arm to get there attention. It is not giving pain. The other is pain spanking. That is when you inflict pain. I think pain spanking only creates resentment and anger. I hate the words whipping and beating. The doctors who have seen me for my "father" test are shocked that a person could do that to another. I also think humiliating a child in front of others is cruel. I think praise for good behavior is effective. Not very deep but that's what I think. Frank

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  11. Frank,

    You think a spank on the bottom doesn't give pain? I guess I think a spanking wouldn't be very effective discipline if it didn't hurt, unless maybe it just scared the child enough to be effective.

    In my mind, I tend to draw the line between doing something that gives the child a temporary pain that goes away in less than an hour and something that gives the child lasting damage.

    Although, in your case, I would also say that I think parents ought not to still be spanking by the time a child reaches the teenage years.

    God bless,
    Anna

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