Learning From The Past - or not.

Reading is fundamental - so is experience.

Recently, this blog outlined the various periodicals that come to our house. As we get older we've noticed a departure of past reading practices.

Where we used to start our reading choices with the sports page we now seem to concentrate on the News section of USA Today. Now, it being baseball season - not football - may be one reason for this turnabout proclivity. Reading about the Pirates suggests a real affinity for the writings of Victor Hugo. The peasants are still losing.

But, win or lose, the state of the Pirates is receiving less daily attention from me than the state of the union. As age creeps up on me my philosophy on much of today's current events reveals more of a shrug of the shoulders than it once did. But, the interest remains.

One of the many life lessons that having kids taught me is that it's not always bad to leave a baby cry once you determine that there appears to be no physical reason for the crying. Granted all of this must be done in small, well considered increments - particularly as a first time parent.

Another lesson as we go through life is that employees- just like children- need to know what your expectations are and what are the likely consequences of failing to act within those rules. I am not suggesting that employees should be treated like children - no matter how often their actions might suggest otherwise.

The premise is rather that both groups not only need to be told the extent of the restrictions placed on them. They also share a a desire to be told. So many parents as well as coaches have failed due to their inability to understand and practice this simple truism.

With a child it is important to emphasize where they can and cannot go - do - or say. With the employees it depends more on the management style of you and your company. But, the bottom line is that we all need rules so that we can develop a framework for our individual talents.

If we have a small child who insists on crawling up the steps it is important to explain what the consequences will be should they fail to acknowledge and act upon our direction. They need to not only understand the harm from falling down the stairs but the actions from us they can rightfully expect for their failure to obey us as their parent.

This axiom is not without the need for parents to apply same in increments similar to the crying baby. The action must fit the situation.

Simply put, if you tell the kids that some sort of punishment will occur should they continue to disobey your admonition not to continue climbing - you need to reinforce that disobeyance with appropriate follow up.

Not suggested here is that you remove the spindle from the railing and clobber them over the head. However, consistency is a byword here. The only way to truly establish the parameters for both us adults and children is prompt and fair reprisal. It is NOT child abuse.

Yeah, it's a pain to be a parent - or even a new member of management . One of the great motivations that drives us all is a desire to be liked. As we grow older it turns from the verb form "liked" to one called "respected." If we want to be liked - get a dog.

Having been once blessed with a daughter, I understand that the recognition of a need for good and consistent parenting results in a positive reward in your relationship with that progeny down the road. We used to take turns hanging up on each other out of anger and frustration.

Now, I watch with admiration as my daughter practices the parenting model with her own 4 children. Quite frankly, she's a much better practitioner than her old man.

Now, to the state of the union thing.

If you, as a country, establish rules for crossing your borders ( or parameters) and fail to follow up, it's not only your leadership that will be accurately questioned. It is also the perceived veracity of your regulations and enforcement. Why are we so surprised that illegal (excuse me ," undocumented" workers) continue to flaunt what they feel is their right?

Too many people seem to confuse what is going down in Arizona with bigotry.

Perhaps, on reflection, it's nothing more than just acting on the rules that are in existance with appropriate reinforcement.

And yeah, a lot of people are going to fight against the planned action - just like your kids did.

Maybe it's time for some long overdue strong leadership and parenting skills. Why not start with the executive and legislative branches. Again, if we're going to "vote them out" - let's make sure that we keep track of and respond appropriately to the promises made by their replacements.

Experience suggests to me that's called "good parenting" too.