APRON STRINGS

We used to say people were tied to their mother's by their apron strings. By this they meant that they couldn't make decisions etc. without talking to Mom. So how do we go about loosening those apron strings so this does not happen? It should be a slow process starting about the time they start school. You start by allowing the child to make some decisions of their own. With s really young child it can be about what they are going to wear. If you have a screen time restriction it can be about how they use that screen time. If they use the time haphazardly they learn to plan better. As the child gets older and more mature you increase the decisions they are allowed to make. As teenagers they should be making some of their own decisions. This can increase as they mature. When they make a harmful decision they may lose some of that decision making ability. For example, teenagers should be allowed to use phones, computers etc. with minimal checking unless they are sexting or something like that. They have then given up the privilege of using those devises without supervision until they earn back the trust. Tomorrow we will talk about earning back trust. Sherri