Every family has its rules. Some families do a better job of articulating and enforcing them than others, but every family has both implicit and explicit guidelines.
Since my son is not yet four years old, our family rules mostly consist of how to continue on our path of living more simply and sustainably in an increasingly fast-paced society.
Rules like:
- Use the car as little as necessary.
- No T.V. (including DVD’s).
- Don’t waste water.
But recently, I came to a place where I realized that I was going to have to start making some exceptions to the rules, sometimes, or go insane.
I decided that it would be okay to budget fifty or seventy dollars a month to take Benjamin to fun places so that he doesn’t tear the house apart in boredom.
I decided that it would be okay to let Benjamin watch thirty minutes or so of videos to help calm him down at the end of the day when he’s bouncing off the ceiling and driving Jerry and I up a wall.
I decided that if Benjamin runs water in the sink for five minutes, the oceans won’t dry up.
I decided, in essence, that as long we live in house with a teeny backyard that does not provide the exploration space an active little boy needs, I am allowed to take advantage of modern conveniences.
What are some family or personal rules you have had to back away from because they didn’t quit fit with the current needs of your household? (I hope it wasn’t away from healthy eating!)