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Stay at Home Moms
When do you relax your rules...
For example - We typically don't allow TV after 9 am. I find myself relaxing this rule when it is raining out and the kids are stuck inside, or when it is really cold winter weather.
Do you relax your rules based on the weather? Other reasons?
Or should 'rule be rules' period?
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Re: When do you relax your rules...
Based on weather? No. If we have family in town the rules may change.
I'm fairly strict about tv and snacks during the week. We don't watch any tv during the school week. I rarely change that rule. We generally don't have dessert or sugary snacks during the week either. Weekends are a bit more relaxed.
If the grandparents are in town we're a lot more relaxed about what they eat-if the grandparents want to give them dessert, I don't have a problem with it. They're not here that often so it's generally not a huge issue.
On vacation, all rules are off. If they want to watch tv and have dessert every day-fine by me.
Do you have older children? I am just curious of your term "school week" with a toddler who is too young for school... What about summer, with no school?
I am debating whether I should be more strict with sticking to my rules. ie., does it give them mixed messages when I change the rules based on other factors.
We don't allow anything to eat after supper. But on days when we have an early meal and go out after supper, I allow DD1 to have a snack before bed. DH thinks I should not- but logically, it makes sense for her to be hungry then.
Most of my rules are fairly flexible. Ha. And yes, I definitely change our routine when it's raining/cold. Only rules that don't change are things like no jumping on the couch, no hitting, etc. I guess I see everything else as "policies".
There probably is some logic behind having rules that do not ever get broken but I guess I feel like TV isn't one of them. Everyone is different.
I kind of answered your question thinking about my older kids (8 and 6). I guess I am more flexible on DS' "rules".
We still don't have tv during the week in the summer. I guess I am more flexible on the weather issue in the summer. I try to stick to the same rules during the week even in the summer. I am a little more flexible but I try to keep the same rules.
Now if it were just DS I think I'd be a lot more flexible-he's 23 months right now.
If DD is sick, she can watch more tv. She just wants me to hold her on the couch when she is sick, so TV helps pass the day (I'm taking severe flu here, not a cold etc). Also, I relax my rules on vacations or holidays (ie not worried about bedtime, naps, food as much) and deal with the consequences when we get home.
Another time I relax the rules is when DD isn't eating. She's a skinny girl, not an ounce of toddler pudge. She's 99% for height but only lke 12% for weight so I don't want her to lose anymore. If she won't eat what I make, I make her something else. At some point I will have to stop this but if she wants a yogurt she gets one (still healthy things, no cookies just to get her to eat).
Wow I guess I don't have many "rules" really lol!