
Originally Posted by
vashti
Well, some kids will be resentful of pretty much anything.
I wasn't talking about 'kids'... I was talking about when they become adults..

Originally Posted by
vashti
Also, the resentment can go both ways. In my house, it was my son who didn't want a pet, and every time the dog does something annoying, you can bet my son is resentful.
If your son didn't want a pet... then why have one? If he didn't want it.. then it's safe to say that he didn't pick it out either. If another child wanted the pet, then why should he have to care for it?

Originally Posted by
vashti
The good news is that someday you will be able to put all your theories into practice.
I don't have to put into practice the theory that any child can learn responsibility... I see it every day via other parents, close family members, friends... complete strangers.. and every adult I've met has some understanding of responsibility. Our entire society is built on having an understanding of responsibility (you have to go to work.. to pay for the things you want and need... to help your family.. etc).
Let's not make this a matter of requiring experience with something that can just as easily be observed. Adults understand responsibility... so at some point between childhood and adulthood.. they had to learn it. I don't need to 'experience' the process to understand that point A leads to point B.
"The weakest soul, knowing its own weakness, and believing this truth that strength can only be developed by effort and practice, will, thus believing, at once begin to exert itself, and, adding effort to effort, patience to patience, and strength to strength, will never cease to develop, and will at last grow divinely strong."
- James Allen