Got a letter from Focus on the Family...

[sapphire_chan]

in my mailbox today. Addressed to the previous owner of our house. Anyway, on the envelope in large red letters was "Vicious attack on Dr. James Dobson." My first thought was "good idea."

[Houdini]

[aira]

Sorry, I'm dumb...

What's Focus on the Family?

[Joannarachel]

:

So what was this vicious attack?

[thismama]

[the_lissa]

[nextcommercial]

Actually, I really like a lot of their stuff. When my daughter was little I would buy her the "Adventures in Oddysey" CDs to listen to in the car, on trips, the stories are awsome.

I will admit to never having read any of his books though. I do read Kevin Leman, and I think he is the only Child development author I really like.

[peacelovingmama]

Dr. Dobson frightens me. He recommends switching babies. I believe that, in one of his books, he discusses teaching his toddler daughter not to climb the stairs by repeatedly hitting her on the legs with a switch and then leaving the switch where she can see it. Unless I'm confusing him with someone else... I'm pretty sure he's the one.

[DoulaClara]

peacelovingmama, I believe that is the Pearls, from their book To Train Up a Child.

I don't think I've heard Dobson advocating switching babies, but he is pro-spanking.

[UnschoolnMa]

The kindest thing I can say about Mr Dobson is that I am not a fan or in agreement with him on just about anything. Ever.

[peacelovingmama]

Originally Posted by DoulaClara

peacelovingmama, I believe that is the Pearls, from their book To Train Up a Child.

I don't think I've heard Dobson advocating switching babies, but he is pro-spanking.

I don't mean infants, but toddler babes. I know the Pearls advocate horrific abuse. Doesn't Dobson tell that story about "switching" his daughter Danette/Danae/(can't recall exact name) each time she goes for the stairs in one of his books? I'll have to doublecheck the next time I'm at the book store.

ETA: I did a quick net-search. He does have a daughter named Danae and it appears that he does recommend starting to hit babies as young as 15-18 months. I recall reading a passage from "Dare to Discipline" where he claims that Danae had to be hit on her legs -- I think because she was trying to climb stairs. I don't know if his new editions of DTD contain this sad story or not. But it certainly stuck with me.

[georgia]

A quick search in the Spirituality/Religious Studies forum on Dobson would bring up quite a few very enlightening threads about him and his focus.

[nextcommercial]

Originally Posted by peacelovingmama

Dr. Dobson frightens me. He recommends switching babies. .

LOL..I thought you meant the other kind of switching. I was all ready to start trading kids.

[JamesMama]

Yeah, Dobson frightens me. He also advocates CIO REALLY reccomends against cosleeping and breastfeeding beyond one year among other things. My DOCTOR gave me a big huge Focus on The Family book...I only use it cuz it has good pictures of rashes and other common skin deals in the back *blush*

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by JamesMama

My DOCTOR gave me a big huge Focus on The Family book...I only use it cuz it has good pictures of rashes and other common skin deals in the back *blush*

Don't blush. That takes a copy out of circulation, without exposing a baby to being switched.

[bu's mama]

Quote:
Originally Posted by peacelovingmama
Dr. Dobson frightens me. He recommends switching babies. .

Originally Posted by nextcommercial

LOL..I thought you meant the other kind of switching. I was all ready to start trading kids.

I thought the same thing!

[peacelovingmama]

Originally Posted by bu's mama

Quote:
Originally Posted by peacelovingmama
Dr. Dobson frightens me. He recommends switching babies. .




I thought the same thing!

You guys are cracking me up! Hey - if your child is a discipline problem, try switching with someone else. Makes about as much sense as hitting babies!

[oliversmum2000]

Originally Posted by peacelovingmama

You guys are cracking me up! Hey - if your child is a discipline problem, try switching with someone else. Makes about as much sense as hitting babies!

ROTFLOL!!!

how about a weekly rotation of children!

[katallen]

Actually, in his dare to discipline he does give a story about a mother who used a switch on her 16 month old because she tried to follow her out of the house and he praised the mother. He also leaves it really vague as to what age it is okay to start using the switch.

His new recommendation is putting hotsauce on a child's tongue as an alternative to spanking. That may be why he is getting chewed out now, my mother sent me an article about it from one of her classes and it is pretty nasty.

[LoupdelaTerre]

Yeah...that's not a bad idea. lol
The ol' Dr gives me the willies. Like someone else said, the kindest thing I can say is that I wouldn't take his advice if my life depended on it. Now...the unkind things I'll say outloud.