cheese, wine & robots

http://www.newsweek.com/id/133103/page/1

How about we give kids less responsibility. That way they can practice saying, "It's not my fault," or my personal favorite, "It's YOUR fault."

Now, as a relatively new parent, I think about letting my son take bike rides alone or go to the playground alone and I freak out a little. So many bad things could happen! But I also realize that if I don't teach him how to forge out independently he'll have a lot harder time learning the good and necessary skills called "taking care of yourself." As a kid we walked to and from school, went to the playground or the track, rode or rollerbladed around, took walks and went on various adventures around the neighborhood ALONE and with friends. My mother did not watch over me, but she always knew when we were doing something we weren't supposed to be doing. Kids are not very good at hiding things.

Well, she ALMOST always knew.... ;-)