I have this really simple philosophy that seems to work really well with raising Sarah. I just remember how cruddy I felt when I was hit and screamed at and it all comes back enough to me to remember that I really didn't like feeling like that. I feel there's nothing more inhumane than treating a child like they are less than an adult. They are just little people who need nurturing. They need to be heard and understood as individuals. And remember, these children will become the people who will be taking care of each future generation some day.

They have the right to always feel safe, secure and not afraid. They have the right to have an opinion, and be heard when they speak. And this can work from the child's point of view as well, because if you teach them respect...it will in turn come back at you when they "do" speak their mind. They need to be encouraged to discuss matters rather than argue. They need to understand that we will all have different opinions and we just need to respect the different ones. And the most valuable lesson we could teach our children and even remember as adults....K-I-S-S...which simply put means "KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID"