Boundaries

[cfred]

Well said Wonderwiper. Exactly! We are treated the way we allow people to treat us. If any of my clients deliberately took advantage of me or were otherwise unpleasant clients, of course the dynamic would change....it would have to. I'm not an idiot, nor a pushover. But I have been called a 'hippie', which is fine by me. I love people and in my life, the more the merrier That being said, of course, I'm closer to some than others, and that's ok, but I'm always open to new friends. And really, it just eases stress for me and makes my job so much easier and more enjoyable. I find it very stressful being guarded and distant as it's completely against my nature. I've been told a time or 2 that I'm too friendly for my own good. Tempered with a contract and clear rules, it's, so far been working very well for me and my business is developing beautifully.

So far as returning to a more old school approach to child rearing...YUP!!! That's what I tout in interviews, so it's understood how things work. I'm the boss....period. I've not had a problem with parents going along with me. There's the odd issue, but nothing major. Like I said, the people who don't appreciate me or my ways mosey on pretty quickly. I will admit that I am lucky. Have had a couple clients in the past who didn't see eye to eye with me. BUT, it was rural area and I had to take people on who I probably wouldn't now. My new location allows me to cherry pick clients, so that helps. I am a bit dismayed to see some parents with their kids and how they run, pretty much wild, are completely disrespectful to their peers, elders and environment. When I see those kids and parents in interviews, they go right onto my waiting list, with a little star beside their name. NEXT! I agree completely that there are some serious changes needed. Fortunately, we're in a great position to instill our values in them....sometimes it sticks!