Le Sabot Post-Moderne

One tiny little word in defense of the Ezzo's teaching. Their Prep for the Toddler Years really helped me out, especially teaching the baby signs, and having playpen time. I was doing pretty well with my babies, but when they became toddlers they just went wild because I didn't know what kind of boundaries to place.

Also, we took the Growing Kids God's Way course and learned some alternatives to spanking -- we were raised by parents who spanked us two or three times in our whole childhoods, but otherwise left us to ourselves, so we had no idea of logical consequences.

Okay, I said a tiny word, so I'll stop now. :-)

Hiya... :)

"Okay, I said a tiny word, so I'll stop now. :-)"

I'm not looking to open a debate on it either. There are definitely specific, anecdotal things I could say positively about Ezzo. But the overall program is pretty pernicious -- medically, psychologically and theologically.. Ezzo.info has some great information on the subject.

Kelly, I've known a lot of great families that have used the GFI materials. I've come to believe that any "good" that results from the program, is from a husband and wife setting aside time to talk about and focus on parenting issues. And being more aware and "proactive" in their parenting. Any ideas that are good in the GFI materials can be found elsewhere, without having to sort through the crud that is also in those materials.

But like I said, the GFI families I've known have truly loved their kids. I find fault with the ideas Ezzo teaches--not parents who glean some good ideas from him.

Greetings and salutations to Discoshaman, the Duchess and the whole brood!

I read the article Duchess, and as always your passion and clear-headedness come through loud and clear. Congrats! You're both well on your way to becoming famous! Remember those of us wasting away on the beach, and may you never get so big as to forget us little people. :-)

Aside from that, nice to see you both are still in good form!

All- CelticQueen is one of my most dearly, dearly beloved friends back home in Florida... :)

CelticQueen- Hey you! It's such a cool surprise to 'see' you... Don't I just have a brilliant wife? Just think, someday you'll be able to say, "I sushied with her BEFORE she got the million-dollar book advance." ;)

Speaking of which, we're going to be home in less than a year-and-a-half, btw. Crazy Buffet is already penciled in for when we get back.

It looks like Orlando for us, but that's not THAT far away. Any chance of HP transferring you to O-town?

It's so cool to see you... Say hi to Rich for us.

--John

John,

I didn't know you guys were former Floridians. Whereabouts?

John R-

I'm a Sarasotan... Though we most recently spent a year in St. Pete, and will next be in O-town. How about yourself, where do you call home? It's funny that I know so much about your twisted views on life, and so little about your actual life. ;)

Just wanted to say that I'm so thankful for your and Alexandra's willingness to talk about your Ezzo experience, and to call a chucklehead a chucklehead.

It appears that Tim's comments are down for now (Squawkbox?) so I'm commenting here to Tim about his post.

Okay, with that preamble, I wanted to say that I had to google Foster Kline, the author you mentioned, because I had no clue who that was. (Co-author of Parenting with Love and Logic, I found out. Heard of it, but am unfamiliar with it. . .)

Also, I'm intrigued by your friends/coworkers comment. Have you read anything written by Frank York, who used to work at GFI? Interesting fellow. . .

--The Duchess
who does have a scepter, even if not a crown

Yippee! Hard to believe you've been gone so long that you've only got a year and a half left! How the time flies!

You bet your buns that we'll have the reservation for all at Crazy Buffett upon your triumphant return!! And O-town is but a hop, skip and a jump, so I expect we'll see you often. (Plus I believe you still have family around here, and don't think I won't guilt trip you into a visit.) We've missed you and your brilliant wife most poignantly.

Hug and kisses to all.

CQ

John,

I do generally keep the personal stuff out of the blog...

We live in a suburb of Ft. Lauderdale, and have been down here since '98.

I've been to Sarasota and like it a lot there. We once vacationed at Longboat Key, which was spectacular--except for the red tide they were having at the time. But if you stayed four or five miles from the beach, it was quite nice! ;)

Alexandra, I read that article, and I'm so sorry about your Johnny. I'm glad he's well now.

Mike's parents are in Jacksonville, and we get down there once every two years or so. You'll probably be back in Florida next time we go visit them. :-D

Johnny is kinda on the small side--we had growth concerns well into toddlerhood. But most of that I think is genetic--looking at the other boys and our extended families.

I have a dear friend, though, whose son is diagnosed RAD, tied directly to their use of the Ezzo baby materials. Of course, this isn't a common consequence of using these flawed materials, but it is a risk parents take when using these materials--and a risk parents have no clue they are taking. My friend's son is Johnny's age (7) and is having major regression. Knowing how loving this mother is, how "normal" their family is, it really upsetting to watch their struggles.