Friday, January 21, 2011  Being A Bystander  I have moments
where I think this blog isn't necessary.  Usually it's during a
time when things are relatively harmonious with my own kids, and
with the families I'm around.  I begin to be lulled into
complacency about how parents interact with their kids.  And
then I'm reminded.    I'll be out in public somewhere--the
grocery store, a restaurant, the swimming pool.  I'll see a
conflict between parent and child escalating.  I see grownups
acting not-so-grownup.  Most recently, it was in the restroom of
a family restaurant.  Thank God my kids weren't with me.  A mom
came in with a 3- or 4-year old boy.  She was using her
"commanding" voice, telling him to go into the restroom stall to
do his business.  Apparently, he was resisting.  Seconds later,
I hear her raising her voice:  "Get in there and poop!"  Which
was absurd enough for me--because if the kid was scared or shy
(or constipated, even), or whatever was making him not want to
go into the bathroom stall, it wa