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Freedom of Speech?
Children Who Speak Their Minds
By Carma Haley
Whether informing their mother of the right way to cook dinner or telling the neighborhood children about family finances, an outspoken child offers parents a challenge they may never soon forget. Along with the challenge, the stories that are created by an outspoken child's actions make for great family tales. "When announcing to my oldest son that we were going to have a new baby, he became upset and said, 'That's just great Mom, now we'll never get nothing,'" says Rexroat. "And then he continued to offer me a half-hour lecture on why we could not afford to have another child. Maybe labeling my children as 'outspoken' is a little harsh. Let's just say that they are open-minded children who speak their mind very freely. Maybe there will be a famous lawyer or politician in my bunch. They know how to use their words, so why not let them become rich and famous for doing it?"
"What some consider as rude others may consider comical. It is all based on a person's perspective," says Pieper. "Parents should embrace their child's verbal skills and hope for the best. After all, an outspoken child may grow up to have outspoken children of their own. Then where will they go for advice?"