Comments on: You Must Obey Me…Or Someone

By: Lindsay Steve

Lindsay Steve — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 03:11:31 +0000

Hi there! I discovered your page on bing. I’m just in the process of starting a blog and wondered how you found the Wordpress platform to install.Anyway, great website and ill def be visiting again! cheers

By: Sandy Naidu

Sandy Naidu — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:08:06 +0000

Interesting post – According to me ‘Obey’ is a dirty word – If you raise your child to constantly obey you then I think it can kind of kill their creativity, independent thinking (and all those positive things). Having said that, you do want them to listen to you. So I use the term – ‘you need to listen to me’ – rather than obey (sounds like military academy) -

By: Keith Wilcox

Keith Wilcox — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 19:25:27 +0000

“Obey” doesn’t particularly sit well with me either. I think this parent would have been better served to use “respect.” If the kids was acting like a disrespectful turd then that sounds a bit better to my ears. Respect is a big part of our core values as a family. I respect my kids and I expect them to respect me. Such things like not interrupting when someone else is talking, helping when you see someone needs help. Those sorts of thing. But, yeah, not Obey — that connotes a one sided relationship. You are correct. Keen observation!

By: DD

DD — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:45:37 +0000

Obey is for the lazy–it’s just easier. Men figured that out centuries ago when they wrote the marriage vows.

By: Scott

Scott — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 04:22:35 +0000

I agree with most the other commenters that ‘obey’ has some potentially bad connotations. I like your point about realizing there are consequences to actions. That’s what I strive to teach my kids.

If you do x,… y happens. Usually the consequence itself causes the kids to listen, especially when ‘y’ in the equation involves me taking off my belt!

By: Celeste Short

Celeste Short — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 03:51:21 +0000

Just for the record, you are some of the FUNNIEST DAMN PEOPLE in the WORLD!!!!!!!!

and so are your kids…………:)

By: David

David — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 23:30:11 +0000

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By: Joel

Joel — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:27:06 +0000

I’m with you.

I’m all for discipline (in fact I’m constantly surprised at how little most kids seem to get), but I revel in the fact that my older son is so independent (my youngest is just a week old, so his independence will have to wait a while). It occasionally might be easier if he waited for approval on everything he did, but in the long run I know we’re going to have a son that is equipped to make his own decisions and ready to deal with the consequences of those decisions.

Great post.