Narnia

You need to scroll back a few hundred pages to see it used to crop up nearly every week.

I'll have you know I am the son of an international and national champion trout fisherman. I've seen more trout than I care to remember. I was definitely worth at least one wet trout IMO.

It was way off being 8 though!

Huguenot Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I remember the first weeks at Uni, and one of the > things I do remember was that a few guys had a lot > of atttention from their family whilst they were > trying to find their footing. > > The irony was that rather than proving supportive, > it often cause exquisite embarrassment and had a > completely unintended side-effect of damaging > their social development. > > I think it may be wise to hold back for the > moment. > > Sometimes parents want to be there for their kids > as a way of communicating their love and support. > Psychiatrists find that the effect is quite the > opposite - it actually has an adverse effect on > the child's confidence and self-esteem. > > It's almost as if the parents are sending an > unconscious message to the child that they are > incapable and incompetent of looking after > themselves (this may be reflected in your desire > to teach him how to complain). In the highly > sensitive environment of a university Fresher > term, it may also communicate your doubts to their > acquaintances - and this may put them off > developing mutual friendship. > > It creates a vicious circle, because it sets up > the child's expectations of failure, which > undermines success, and prompts the parents to > commit even more attention. > > The recommended approach is to offer quality > listening time and positive reinforcement but to > delay intervention as much as is reasonable. > > I've attached an interesting questionnaire used by > teams investigating this phenomenon, and the > belief of the researchers is that 'optimal' > parenting delivers high 'care' but low > 'protection'. > > It's possible that your correspondence across the > senior levels at the university is an unmitigated > disaster for little-Narnia... > > Have a look through the questionnaire, and see if > it has relevance? Hugenot, I find your post to be both a useful reminder not to interfere too much but also your 2nd last sentence to be unnecessarily hurtful. Little Narnia or Sprogg as I referred to him in this thread was delivered to Uni with the minimum of fuss and I ensured we got out of there as quickly as possible. On the way there I reminded his mum that some birds are taught how to fly by being dumped out of the nest, which gives them no option. My interference with regard to thieving was due to the fact that the students themselves were getting nowhere in trying to report it. No one was ever there to see them. Where possible I did it anonymously by simply referring to myself as a concerned parent. Sprogg had other things on his mind like how to cook for himself and finding his way around campus which is very big. Apart from going out and partying each night. His 'kitchen', off their own backs went to the other kitchens in the vicinity to discuss what might be done about it. Since then the only communication has been from him asking about buying books etc. He is being left to his own devices and I think is enjoying it so. He will not be enjoying what Mick Mac benifitted from by having meat supplies delivered to him each week-end by his Mum. Is Mick suffering because of this now? I doubt it very much. If I was the type of parent you appear to suggest I am then I would hardly have allowed him to visit friends he had never met except on the internet, in Austria, Holland and Denmark. All these trips went well and helped him to grow up. Are you a parent? Edited due to some appaling English

Now you're talking. Nothing like soda bread. I've made it a few times and it's delicious.

Thanks Mick, I'll look out for them. They may want to know why I let him cycle to Canterbury.

What about jrhartley? He appears to be fishing for a bite.

I suspect you or Dad will have to decide to learn it too to make a difference. I'm no expert but without regular exposure to the language I doubt much will stick at such a young age. My teenager is fluent but his mum is Spanish and he spent every summer with his Spanish family. You might think of getting childrens songs in Spanish on CD or cartoons in Spanish on DVD. I remember Muzzy was popular with my one, years ago. I don't know if Muzzy still lives though. SKY used to broadcast TVE but not anymore unfortunately.

jrussell owes me ?1.90 if you ever meet him.

I think HAL should say who he is talking about.

Presumably it has in a similar way that actress has, apart from the odd pub of that name.

Thanks TT. The trouble is mine was hardly complaining. I'm trying to teach him TO complain and not be a victim.

I presume Axeman would call herself Axewoman if he was a she. I haven't seen anything remotely resembling sincerity written by the Axeperson, just a poor attempt at plausability. My reference regarding you and 'get karter' and sentences was using a bit of poetic license.

You don't happen to have a lot of banana's lying around. Had lots of flies last summer which particularly liked banana's. Have had more though this year with the banana's under wraps and just kept spraying them whenever we saw them. Seem to have gone now. So keep spraying. You will get rid of them.

That's me Well spotted karter. Pity you can't spot a troll so easily. Blind fecker.

Thanks k..........I'm sure you don't mean it.

That's what you said karter.

Oh dear Karter and LM. In one sentence you are both telling him to f off and in another there's no reason for him to be banned, it's a learning experience. This person doesn't want to exchange opinions with forumites. He just wants to wind people up. You two have had your happy pills far too early.

That's one hell of a welcome RH. Who is as rude though?

I don't know Brum. I think I'm thread confused. Has that ever been diagnosed as an illness? Marches, orange, medals, breasts.....they've all come up today somewhere or other.

dulwichmum Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Lovely Narnia, > > I wonder who "The Master" is. Has your son told > you that someone is up in front of "The Master"? > I don't ever remember any such title being used in > halls at any uni I attended in London. In my > experience The Deans or academics do not get > involved with issues such as this and the > caretaker has no clout at all. Food going missing > from halls is sadly very common. The current > state of play at every university in the UK means > that people are far more concerned with keeping > their jobs and generating research income than > becoming involved in student politics in halls. I've had an email from the very Master herself today DM so she does exist. I've also had one from the Union and a Facebook message from the student President of his college. It appears security has been upped and never in history has this amount of thieving ever occured (except perhaps for Cromwell). However I still await a reply from the one who counts. Can't remember his title but he's ignoring emails currently.

It will be white uniforms next with pointy hats if you're not careful.

What's this about wearing a woman's left breast?

Got me in one Axeman. How are the Palace doing this season?

I happen to be Irish. I was born there so had no choice. Proud of being Irish, not really. Glad to be? Yes in the sense that we have things in common that amuse us. I don't have a flag in my sitting room though. As for the Union flag not being displayed during the WC..... as it represents four different 'football' countries, it's hardly surprising.