I don’t claim to be an
authority on kids, nor
do T think Tama partic-
ularly effective parent a
lot of the time.

bike mont methers out

re, P spend a tot oraime dy
mt by the seatornany pants
when I'm de liste wath me
children. Isa real hit and
tis thing. this parenting gig:
even the expert. adie thar i's
Virentendous learming exper
eme tor them,

f have, however, gained a
tew interesting insights i ite
the way kids behave through
raising my own three chikiren.
Just for tun, Pihought £ would
share them with you,

The first thing I’ve learned
about kids is that they are all
born with an innate under-
standing of the tern hypocete.

I know this because my
oldest son fir used it when he
was three vears old and Twas
lecturing him on the value of
not eating junk food.

“Buc you're cating the
chocolate bar vou just took
away from me, Mommy,” was
his indignant response.

“T believe that makes vou a
hypocrite.” he scolded me. I
swear T saw his vounger sib-
lings, even the baby, vod in
agreement with him.

Kids inherent understand:
ing of hypocrisy can he espe-
cially irritaung when they
combine it with theiz uncanny
ability to remember every
thing you've told them abour
when vou were growing up.

For example, wien my kids
were in their early teens (some
of dient stil are), they started

-—S$hannon
‘Humphreys

Close to
honie

asking me abut aw experi
enees with drugs

Pee always felt thar itis
ATEN Whuil to he epen and
honest with mu chiklren. se 1
foolishly told thet the truth.

Ttred to temper the intor
mation Twas ving then with

the lessons [learned tron
these experiences, and telt I
had done a decent job of it.
until a vear later, 6

engeged in one of my tall
Mown anti-drug lectures my
son reminded me that had.
in fact, tried drugs mysci and
so why shouldn't he?

“Because Pwas dumb and
you're not,” [ answered,
knowing he had me peggedt
once again.

Don't vou just hate it when
they're right all the dine?

‘he next insight [have to
give vou is this: Even though
vour kids can’t stand the sight
of their siblings most of the
time, if there Is an Opportunity
to band together with them to
gang up against vou, they will

At cur house this phen vn:
ena is like an atomic reaction.
The minute [ start scolding
one of ary kids, all three of
them fuse together like atoms
to form 2 mighty molecule of
defence.

It's like they know the

hunibers advantage will win
the dav ter them. No matter
what the battie rs. or how
many tights the kid bas had
with his abhags thar daw he
has instant allies when 7 aay
the toc,

Another ding Pye learned
about kids is thareven though
thes pretend to completcly
Innore vou, they ares iy tact,
“ atching Sour CVcry Hote

Pawas reminded of this tact
just the other dav Dwas at nw
daunhter’s soccer game, foan

liv alone atence and
in up the sunshine. Now
this kidd arsists that she’s old
enough so that she doesn't
need me at her games al the
time. but Ftry te go aneway
because | know the other par
amis say nasty things about me
shen Dadam to and P suppose I
sull believe that deep down,
the irl likes to have me there.

Well, when the game was
aver, she asked me at Thad
enjoved watching,

“Hrawas very cveiting”
answered her, with what f
thought was an appropriace
Amount of enthusiasm.

“Mother,” she countered,
“Tlookead aver at vou several
umes duriie the secoond halt
and vou were stumped over
the tenee, dead asleep.”

“Oh dear” T timbled to
recover trom her accusation,
“TE guess mavhe [was a little
sleepy; E did't realize E diitted
oft”

“Its OK mother,” she said.

But if veurre going to come
to my games, st least try to
stay awake.”

See, theyre watching vou,
those little dickens, even if

thes sav they dont care what
vou deo.

The tourth and most
important ting Pre learned
about kids ts that they never
get too old fora hug tron a
mon or dad.

Mi own kids have certainty
demonstrated this tome, even
the bows. And Parvscht recent
experienced this aced. when in
Atime of protoand sadness, |
scent home to vial my parcnits

As Pwalked inthe doorway
to their house, tears streaming,
down my tice, ny dad
embraced me uv one of the
purest, warmest expressions of
genuine fove and caring that f
have felt tora long time.

When f retumed home to
av house, my daughter asked
me where | had been,

“Home fora hug trom my
dad," I said.

“Gee, Mom,” she said
wondrously, “T guess even
middle-aged mommies sull
need hugs from their dads.”

Final insight: kids are a lor
smarter than we give them
credit for.

~~ Dumipersttbc vi paticaca

Imagine...Shopping at Home
Draperies * Bedding « Valances
¢ Upholstery ¢ Blinds
* Personalized Service «

JABOT

Creative Window Coverings & Home Decorating Ideas
2413 Marine Dr., West Van 922-4668

Specializing in:

Affordably Priced from $42-$86

Sizes Available

24°W x 31"H

24"W x 43172°H
24'"W x 56'/e"H
24°W x 687/:"H
24"W x 80%."H

30°W x 31°H

30"W x 43%2"H
30"W x 561/s"H
30°W x 68°/2"H
30"W x 807:"H

CANADIAN CLOSET

“A family owned business since 198."

1385 Crown St. N. Van.

386-4263)

AZZLE YOUR DECOR!

Solid Westminister Brass
finish lamp 30" high with
10"x 17"x 12.5" shade

$y 95

@ Each

Vancouver’s largest selection of lamps

NORBURN LIGHTING