It's amazing how early in life children can laugh and respond to humour. And humour, I believe, can be an important part of parenting. It's helpful for bonding, for lightening a fraught situation and just generally a wonderful aspect of being human. And especially useful when dealing with teenagers.
However, I experienced something the other evening that stayed in my mind, and not in a good way. I decided it would be good to share it with you, dear Readers, as a cautionary tale.
Our local Waldorf school was showing the second half of the Jonathan Stedall documentary 'The Challenge of Rudolf Steiner'. Having already watched the first half on youtube, I decided it would be nicer to see the second on a proper screen. When I arrived at the school I found I had a few minutes to waste. The whole day had been steamy hot, and I'd been dying to try the new, homemade ice-cream store nearby. So off I went.
Families were sitting outside, enjoying the treats. Except for one little boy, who was perhaps seven or eight years old. His dad emerged, having bought him a large sugar cone, loaded with two ginormous scoops of ice-cream. He handed it to his son.
"But I said I just wanted a taste," the little chap moaned.
Then I realized that the father had done this as a joke. That might have been okay for an adult, but his kid was truly upset, and close to tears.
"I hate it," he wailed.
So, as I said, a cautionary tale. 'Tricks' that might be fun for the grown-ups aren't necessarily so for little ones.
p.s. If you happen to watch the film, make sure you click on the 10 minute postscript, which closes the documentary in a most wonderful and inspiring way.
