Deflect

As my children grow older, the kind of parent I am changes, to some extent. I want them to learn how to make good choices on their own, without my looming presence. But while they are little, much of my parenting is simply deflective. When they set themselves on a course of destruction (i.e. pulling all of my plastic ware from the bottom drawer in the kitchen), it doesn't do as much good to say no (although I believe that is important) as it does to sit them down, to deflect their interest, with a more appropriate toy.

Ultimately though, my parenting will prove successful if my children are set on a path from which no one can deflect them. It is because of this that I believe child training has to be more than deflection, and that I must be training my children in right from wrong, and how to tell between them.



Wanna play Scribe Scuffle?

Your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to write a post using the word of the month. Any time from the 1st through the 31th, simply write a post, appropriately cramming the WOTM* into as many places as you can.

*Word of the month

Place that month's Scribe Scuffle button (the code will change each month so please check my sidebar for the latest version) at the bottom of your post. Then come back and leave a comment with the location of your entry (so I can read your post and link you to the main list). I'll pick a winner by the first of the next month, and then we'll start all over again!

And yes, there will be a prize.

I'm just not gonna tell you what it is, yet!;)

deflect –verb, to turn aside, especially from a straight course or fixed direction.