can cry any time that he wants and he will be comforted, as long as
his crying is not trying to manipulate others. Just because he cries
and is comforted does not mean that he is going to get whatever he
wants.
He is so incredibly precious. Sometimes he will just cry "I need
love" immediately upon discovering that his manipulative crying pisses
me off, and then he will get all of the love and affection that he
wants, but he will still not get that candy that he wanted. LOVE IS
NOT PERMISSIVENESS. Love definitely includes hugs and kisses.
(And, BTW, he did not get circumcized. I told the hospital that he
could be circumcized, but only over my dead body.)
signed: Mitchell's incredibly proud and lucky Daddy.
P.S. Is it OK to worship the ground that your children walk on? Is
it OK to cover them with kisses? Is it OK to love your 5 year old so
much that he wants to ride "Daddy-back" all day long? I sure hope so
because I would not want to be politically incorrect.
P.S.S. It seems that our culture is struggling between the duality of
loving/affection and order/discipline. I have risen above that
duality and have mastered it. I pour love and affection on my
children and I also keep them in line. Does anyone have a problem
with that?