UNIT 1: FAMILY AND RELATIONSHIPS
My name‿ is Daniel,│ an(d) my wife│ and‿ I are bringing‿ up two boys,│ aged seven‿ an(d) ten. Before we had children,│ I was sure‿ I would be a stric(t) father. Now I know that being strict‿ is‿ easy;│ being fair‿ is much harder.
We allow them one‿ hour‿ of screen time‿ a day,│ an(d) we punish them‿ only│ when they lie to us. When they do something well,│ we praise them‿ in front‿ of the whole family. However,│ we never give‿ in just│ because they cry. Las(t) month,│ my younger son wantedwan-did‿ a new game‿ an(d) screamed‿ in the supermarket. We walked‿ out without‿ it,│ an(d) he has not screamed│ since.
Our‿ aim‿ is to make them‿ independent. They put their clothes‿ away,│ they make their‿ own sandwiches,│ an(d) my older son takes the bus to school‿ alone. My parents think we are crazy. They say,│ "A seven-year-ol(d) should not be alone!" Maybe they are right,│ but‿ in their time children were seen│ an(d) not heard. My wife‿ and‿ I try to set‿ an‿ example:│ we do not shout,│ we do not lie,│ an(d) we apologize│ when we make‿ a mistake. If we do│ that,│ I think the boys will be fine‿ adults.