Better Your Parenting...Bourne and Bond Style

I thought this was some good practical parenting tips for all you out there with kids. For those non-parents out there, it is still good insight into your parents, your friends that are parents, your students' parents, or your future because you just may be a parent someday.

These insights come from Gregory Ramey, PhD, here in Dayton. They were inspired by a recent visit to the International Spy Museum. You can check out the full article here. But for a teaser, here are some of the insights he relays to us:

"Never go against your gut; it is your operational antenna." No one knows your child better than you. While you should consider the perspective of others, follow the Moscow Rules—never go against your gut.

“Pick the time and place for action.” With teens, discipline judiciously. When you make everything important, nothing is important to your teen. Chose your issues carefully...

“Keep your options open.” Just like espionage, parenting is not a predictable endeavor. Spies needed to be flexible, adapting to the situation and changing plans to deal with the uncertainties of the situation.

“You are never completely alone.” Neither spies nor parents are ever alone. For spies, this was a bad thing—they were always being followed. But parents are lucky. You can always reach out to family and friends for help.

(bu to my mom for the article via the Dayton Daily News)