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From: stefbot
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  • great advice... if you turn on the snowflake feature, after a while it seems like Stephan is looking over the pile of snowflakes to talk to you lol. its pretty funny.

  • Isabella is a good name

  • @PraiseTheCrust What are you doing here? ;)!!

  • This is excellent. If a woman is dumb enough to marry and have children with me, I'll definitely use this philosophy .

  • Great Thoughts Stefan. I had an experience as a step father for a decade or so. Your thoughts on "being" a parent the child would choose seem right on the mark with my experience. In order to be an effective 'step' parent, there is no other option than what you describe. If only their 'natural' parent had had a clue *sigh*.

  • @aikidocrazy What reason would you have for arbitrarily denying something like a toy from a child?

  • Very nice thoughts. I wish you the best in fatherhood. Having a sincere heart towards another human or "child" is all that you need to do well. I see that in you and that's why "you" will do great.

  • What a great video.

    It's so good to spread these ideas so people can see how much damage they are causing to their childs by forcing them into doing things.

    It was very emotional to me, i got my eyes wet through the video not only because that approach is full of love and caring but also because it makes me see quite easy how horrible my childhood and adolescence was and that with love and understanding i could have a much happy life.

    Thanks for sharing.

  • This literally brought a tear to my eye, around the 12:00 mark. She'll see this some day, maybe after you're gone, and see how much you loved and respected her from the start. How sweet.

  • My daughter doesn't cry either. She's now 5 and I can count on 1 hand how many times I've heard her cry.

    However, I am an overly protective father. My heart goes in my mouth if I see her on a swing. It's bad in a lot of ways. I don't get to see her enjoy herself because I'm to busy looking for things that might harm her. This is why they are our Sun's-Sonne's-Son's I guess, as I can't live with out the physical sun, I can't live without my daughter (Sun) and must be protected at all costs.

  • The perspective that children are difficult just so the parents can fulfill their goal might be helpful and comforting, but I dare say that it probably isn't the whole truth.

    There is also parent-offspring conflict arising from the fact that parents resources and time are not infinite and the fact that we share most of our genes with ourselves. So it is in the "genes interest" to try to grab more of the parents investment than is "fair".

  • Hey Stef. You should write a book on each season of your child's life and the parenting involved in each season. That way, you can write just after experiencing these different facits of parenting and not have to wait until you are a "seasoned parent" to write.

  • you said you're a philosopher. you ARE a philosopher

  • rock on Stef, you have enlightened me in ways I could never have imagined, and it is amazing to just think about how much sense you make whenever you open your mouth

  • What problems do you foresee his theory failing to solve?

  • 5 Stars. I'm gonna take this with me for the rest of my life. I'm 17 now, but this video touched me. When I get the opportunity to have a family, I want to make sure I do it like this.

  • thanks bro! :)

  • Wow Stef, talking about the involuntary nature of childbirth, and parenthood was very deep. I have often thought about it, and I think you really hit the nail on the head.

  • this was great, i would be interested in a lot more stuff like this

  • The "give and take back" thing seems like it resulted from a lot of "define of the problem, analysis" thinking like computer programmers do. Do you think that your software experience helped in parenting?

  • As far as some of the negative comments, there are many adults who have a very hard time with self-assured children. I've seen it in my own family. The kids can identify the thin-skinned authoritarian types in a nano-second, and the self-confident and irreverent children will tap away at the oh so easily pushed buttons of their would-be bullies.

  • Glad to hear you are taking such joy in your little one. My daughter was a very sweet and gentle tempered baby. She's now a wonderful young woman. Your perspective on how to deal with the communication barriers is very healthy. Like you, I worked in a daycare. I found that some kids simply could not be appeased no matter what I did, and then there were some who responded very well to me, and preferred that I deal with them. It's a mystical voodoo chemistry that can be hard to figure out.

  • Oh my goodness, this just warms my sometimes cold heart. Hooray for Stef's useful parenting metaphors.

  • Parenting is like a monopoly, and like any monopoly there is a tendency to disregard the desires of its "customers". They have to rely mostly on the good heart of the monopoly and not on the very effective desire for optimizing own interests. If children really COULD leave their parents some parents would probably be much nicer.

    Luckily most parents love their children and wish to do anything for them, regardless of the costs :)

  • Basically a child is upset to express something is not right.And say, help me, like a surviving mechanism.This is also the reason why baby's are able to produce so much decibels. You kicked in a very open door, with many words.

    To show respect is always good for every person.Why do you need so many words to tell that?

    She didn't choose you, but the situation is as such, so she can better deal with it. I think there is a big chance Isabella will be a spoiled brat in no time.

  • So far, quite the opposite has been true.

  • Why beta type of minds always will not consider the idea, but directly the opposite. I know, because nobody knows, so 50% chance you're right.

    What you missed in this team thinking as a result is that a child doesn't mind a team, at 7,5 month. She has to survive, so she will make sure one will provide for her. I think you mixed up cause and action, and the fact that a team has to be aware and agree with the same concept in order to make it work. You're not a team, you're a parent.

  • Again, what are you talking about? Beta type of minds? Could you elaborate more on that?

    I'm sorry but a baby can't make sure one will provide for them, as you say. They completely rely on a very basic set of actions and the bond with its caretakers. And what it is about parenting, that disqualifies the concept of teamwork?

  • The man says he is a philosopher, so you could figure it out in the context.

  • Now you're just assuming things, that you base on no arguments or evidence whatsoever.

    And what is the problem you have with talking about parenting? Clearly, it's not an easy job to do, if I may say so. Every bit of knowledge and insight might be helpful. Seriously, what is your problem?

  • The argument is that a child is not able to grasps to work in a team. It is not even able to play with another child on that age. So what's the point to treat a child as if it is in a team, while there is no consciousness on the whole team concept. To assume is always not entirely based on proof. So please learn to grasp semantics before you go out with your flag high in the sky.

  • Ah, semantics. Well, as you acknowledge, I have said nothing semantically incorrect. I guess that's sort of an unintended compliment.

    The teamwork we are talking about is not the teamwork of the US Military level, obviously. The team effort is regarded here in the context of child needing and the parent answering, and vice versa. A mutual relationship between actions and reactions.

    Grasping concepts by a child has very little to do with this argument.

  • I didn't claim at all that you said something semantically incorrect. However, in that case it could still be efficient to grasp semantics. I still do, and to claim the oposite is ignorant arrogance.How you think you can proof something with an example from the military. How this context matches the context given? A mutual relationship sure brings action, but what's the point of that in relation to explaning the legitimy of a team relationship with a child?

  • I'm sorry mate, but you're just picking on things. I'm not sure what your issue exactly is, but I'm guessing you can't stand disagreement.

    Now on the topic of teamwork. Family relations very well fit into the concept of teamwork, and I see no reason why not to use this very concept to help describe the model of interaction between family members, even babies. Trees of a forest do not have to grasp the concept of a forest to be labelled under such.

  • Family relations? Why not make any more quantum leaps in your noodle, and not answer questions that are vital to bring this discussion to a result that makes sense.

    And yes I said before that there are interactions, but the form of these interactions is the main subject in this case. So to bring on any aggregations in this form, while not answer questions, means that you just talk many miles into space. Have a nice journey.

  • Comment removed

  • Grasping concepts by a child has indeed very little to do with this argument. So what?

    And since when is a relationship (which is always mutual, otherwise it is no relationship, coming from the word ship, in this case schap in Dutch, which means something mutual in any case.) in any case something in a team? Mutual relationship can fit in any structure of relationships. So again, please learn what words mean, before you start to think.

  • Teamwork - achieving common goals by say two different (as in difference in properties and approach) individuals.

    Parenting very well fits here, not?

  • Hierarchical relationship can have exactly the same definition.

  • The concept of teamwork yet still applies. And of course the parent has the power over their child. A team might have a hiierachy as well.

    Your argument here is, that team as a concept cannot be a good description of relations between the parent and the child.

    Your argument is wrong - it can be, by the very definition. And the common goal is simply the happiness of the child.

  • No, a team doesn't have hierarchy. That's just the whole point of a team. And otherwise how do you recorgnize the exact definition of the structure from one word? And if this meaning is that flexible what is his point then anyway? Your way off base, because still the child is not aware of all this. As I said, you're not a team, you're a parent.

    By the way, if it doesn't fit the logic why not bend the meaning is the start of corruption.

  • Yes, a horrible corruption of describing how to be a good parent. And yes, teams can have hierarchies and they do have them. They are still one team, yet they might be managed by say a team leader.

    The reason Stefan is talking about it is quite simply - showing you a perspective not so many people see. It's helpful.

    And I'm sorry but you're still picking on things. If I can say anything, please, get a life.

  • The start of corruption of is something else than horrible corruption. One thing I noticed in my life is that I know what is what. You show obvious something else. If to take the meaning of words literally is to pick on things explains maybe more why the country you come from doesn't get hardly a life at all. They do not even know the difference between a team connection and a hierarchical one. Why EU let you people in, anyway?

  • Ah so you're just a troll then. Well, that makes things much easier for me now. Good luck.

  • You can call me anything you like. However, the consciousness of to be operational within a team or a hierarchy is necessary to make it work at all. The troll land your from shows that very clear.

  • The fact that you associate the whole population of a country with opinion of one man pretty much shows where your "logic" and "consistency" comes from. You're simply hateful and prejudiced.

    That aside, let me perform a simple thought experiment. You have a team of racing dogs. The concept of team is applied to illustrate the common goal of the lot. This is the same way Stefan applies this concept to the child and the parent. Dogs have no understanding of the concept, quite like a child.

  • Dogs are born with the team concept in their genes. Bullshit. Terrier Bram had more consciousness then many fellow citizins. Bullshit.

  • And even that aside, some words have various meanings, but here's a fact for you. I've searched quite a few definitions and most of them apply very well. There's no mention about the understanding of the concept or consciousness of being in a team by all members.

  • Well if you really think that it can work without understanding what and how it should work then this is very typical to me.

    You presume I have no life so why don't you just fuck off with your prejudice bla bla.

  • Teams can (and often do) have hierarchy, what about team captains in sports? Project leads in game design?

  • I'd be interested to hear how you plan on raising her when it comes to your ideologies. Will you teach her that anarchism is the only way to go, or teach her multiple schools of thought and let her decide?

  • My goal is to teach her how to think, not what to think :)

  • @stefbot "My goal is to teach her how to think, not what to think."

    Brilliantly said. The correct methodology beats the "correct" ideology any mf-in day of the week.

  • 07:35 words of wisdom

  • 07:35 wonderful. Words of wisdom :)

  • She's going to drop your keys in the grass one day, and you won't be able to get back into your car, Steffy.

  • It's wonderful that so much of your effort is in putting yourself "in her shoes" ie overcoming narcissism before deciding how to act. Thanks for posting this, Stef!

  • Stef, I have a question. Now, this might be a dumb one, but are you planning on enrolling Isabella in any sort of public school? I know that would be like feeding her to the wolves, but consider the emotional cost of homeschooling...

  • We have no plans whatsoever to put her in public school...

  • Private schools wouldn't be any better in this country, so what then?

  • private teachers ?

  • Great story from Doc Mailloux, french psychiatrist; this mother with a 3yr old and a horse farm seeks help dealing with her 'rebel' kid. After some talk asks why she is yelling at her son yet never yells at the horses; she responds that the horses respond badly to yelling...then she lights up and realizes she is treating her animals better than her own kid...Sadly this is the norm. It's a lot more work to raise kids in a smart and loving way but absolutely worth the effort!!

  • What a great father/husband/person you are!! Your baby is not fighting you just trying to communicate in his/her own way, tiny individual learning everything from step 1. So many treat babies/toddlers like objects, disregard the child's desires, show no respect for their feelings...then wonder why their kids later show no respect for anyone. Baby brains are like sponges that will not remember their first years yet these first lessons will subconsciously guide their every move as an adult.

  • Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts with us Stefan, they are precious.

  • "I have to live such that if she had a choice, she *would* choose me as a father over anyone else in the world." That brought tears to my eyes, and made me think of my dad.

  • Hmmmm, well done Stef, I like this ALOT!

  • Do you think you would have an easier time by physically living around other "philosophical" or dare I say "enlightened" parents of the same or similar age as yourself? I often wonder how "a better world" might be possible by carefully selecting ones geographic region, community, neighbourhood, neighbours, friends and partners (both business and romantic). Then ponder how all that will/should affect positively the raising of my kids. Where do you live Stefan and have you thought about that?

  • Enjoy your time together. Live and love. It's easy and all that will matter to you now and years from now.

  • I'm a 22 year old Stef and you make me want to be a dad. I wanna test the method! More empirical evidence of happy babies!! :-p

    Not ready yet though...

    I have been working as a camp counselor all summer though and implemented some of what you've suggested - asking the kids what they want, trying to meet exactly that, giving reasons, asking permission, respect. The kids respond to me better than almost anyone else. It works so well.

    Thanks for everything and good luck with Isabella! :-)

  • Your little girl is SO LUCKY to have a man with passion and eagerness about parenthood for a father. I wish a much larger percentage of black american men shared the same passion about fatherhood as you do. Any child that had a father with your attitude would grow up to be a good and productive citizen.

  • "Any child that had a father with your attitude would grow up to be a good and productive citizen. "

    ...you mean cattle, slave, or sheeple.

  • 2 quick facts-

    1.Babies drool

    2. Stef rules

  • I understand and believe what you're saying is true, but just wait until your daughter is 5 or 6 years old. I promise she will begin opposing you (as well as other people) quite directly!

  • so?

  • Honestly, if my dad or significant other kept asking me how they were doing, I would find it annoying as hell. Why not just tell them to tell you if you're doing something wrong or if you could do something better as grievances arise?

    Don't you find those consumer satisfaction surveys annoying?

  • Tremendously useful video and I hope to see future parts.

  • About parenting (I'm not a parent myself, but my sisters have childrens and I am babysitting once in a while), I think the most important thing is, to empathize in the child. It helped me a lot and the childs LOVE me, and so do I. :)

  • sure empathy is very important, but children still need boundaries. There is always a point at which you will have to say 'no', that's too much sweets, or don't hit people, or don't climb the bookcase, etc. It's important to explain why as well, but they won't always understand the reasoning behind it. It's also great to be the uncle or grandparent who doesn't have to deal with the consequences of a sugar high child after the visit is over.

  • > It's important to explain why as well, but they won't always understand the reasoning behind it.

    Sometimes you tell them the answer and they still ask why. And then you explain it further and the next why appears. And sometimes they wanna kidding you with it. How do you stop this cycle?

  • > There is always a point at which you will have to say 'no', that's too much sweets, or don't hit people, or don't climb the bookcase, etc.

    Agreed.

  • Good thoughts and ideas my friend. It's a pleasure to listen to you. :)

  • 12:16 Not that hard to find out what they want:

    *attention/love

    *food

    *changing diaper

    Attention and love does they become constantly from me. Food and a new diaper, when needed..

  • 12:00 "To get in my daughters diapers.."

    Ouch.. xDDDDD

  • I really have to wonder at the reality of some of these commenters lives.. Cant be much fun, when all they can do is scowl at another fellow human being..

  • there is a certain point where they are 'just being fussy' because they know they can get what they want by crying for it. It's usually reffed to as the 'terrible twos'. I seriously can't wait until you experience this and get a dose of reality. Looking for agreement from a toddler, good luck schmuck. I can guarantee you'll raise a spoiled brat if you give her anything and everything she wants. I think you should set your daughter free, stop treating her like cattle.

  • Most parents create the behavior the child exhibits at that range. People call it a phase because that removes their own responsibility for it. The same is true for teenagers.

  • Actually no. Testing individual boundaries is a normal part of growing up. When exploring speech and the increased mobility of the toddler years, it is natural to test their limits. Same goes for adolescence, when they are entering adulthood it is natural to test the limits of their newly found independence from their parents. For some reason I bet you don't have any kids...am I right?

  • It always feels kinda weird thinking about philosophers having children. Without the kid having to deal with abusive, almost chronically unconscious parents, it almost seems like cheating!

  • it's also usually shocking for those who don't have to deal with reality.

  • I might have taken offense if I could decode what you meant by that...?

  • I meant philosophers, specifically Libertarian, Anarchist, Anti-Statist ones. Don't get me wrong not all all philosophers are detached from reality. The Philosophy of having children can be much different from the reality, especially if your an Anarchist. No offense implied.

  • Detached from reality? Statists are the ones that are detached, buddy. They think that people gain magical powers when they get elected or appointed into office that allows them to steal and enslave the people living in a certain geographical area. If that's not detachment from reality, I don't know what is.

  • I lol'd so hard when he was talking about giving things and taking them back. I do that when i train my dogs man so they don;t get into thinking they have a right to what i give them because then they get mean if u go near em while eating. Just thought it was funny.

  • Lol you really examined what the problem could be? and you realised that it was the seat belt........jesus

  • I once saw a father standing outside his car while his daughter rummaged around the car floor to find her toy. "I can't find it; where is it?" she cried, to which the father responded loudly "It's not my responsibility!". I thought this was a very odd thing to say and wondered what kind of upbringing this man had experienced.

  • Actually, your child did choose you

    The questionnaires and drilling are unnecessary. You find the answers in yourself. You already know. A rehash/examination, meh. You are far more useful in her life as the satellite information relay, rather than the frequency or particular. If you poke and climb inside, you most likely will experience a form of kicked sickness in your journey with her eventually discovering and reestablishing her personal space.

    I like peace/battle dad, not eggshell.

  • This is exactly right his child did pick him and the mother.

  • We live in a prison with no bars , were taxed livestock ,and our government the farmers, were under the dillusion of democracy and freedom , when democracy is 50 percent +1 , freedom is only psycological ,

    why would any one in the right mind want to bring a child they love into such a disgraceful world ? its a burdon on there shoulders , if i hiad a choice when i was born i'd choose death then this hell hole we call earth

  • I didn't know cows payed taxes.

    After all that whining I suggest you go kill yourself.  I think that the world would be a better place. It' would definitely be a happier place.

  • Actually Yourboycal is completely correct about the livestock and we as Government's chattel property, monetized at birth for our future and life long labor.

    I don't know where Stef found all these ignorant viewers, you would think with his general content he would attract a more open minded crowd. Yourboy is angry because he knows... but can not help himself, so he points blame; like all these thumbs down here. his comment regarding a new life is unfortunate, New Life is always a good thing.

  • Great vid. But I'm sorry to hear Isabella has diabetes and I never knew you were from Africa. jk

  • @Video

    at around 15minute mark, your talk about the jungle and.. trying to communicate, etc brought back a horrid memory of when I was younger and lost my voice. Man... I tell you what, your example hit home. Definitely something I will recall if I ever have a kid.

  • Just one more thing...

    I dont think many 'children' would want to change their parents, unless they were being really abused as the child doesnt have much concept of what other parents are like.

    A lot of teenagers might want to change their parents but I was like that as a teen too.

    Asking your kids if youre a good parent isnt really that productive if asked a lot.

  • Ive been a single father for six years, my daughter is now nine. She hardly ever cried as a baby either. I love my daughter to bits and she knows Im here for her to support her. Thats the most important thing. You have a long path ahead of you sir, 0-2 age is the cute, cuddly, easy bit. 2-5 is testing. 6+ becomes sophisticated as you help or sometimes just watch her learn to deal with other children and their personalities. But its a beautiful thing.

  • Excellent work! Yes do more like this.

  • I certainly do wish you were my father :)

  • Do you think is wrong for some parents to put their children in a hospital without their consent in cases like drug addiction, bulimia or suicidal behavior?

  • Metaphors huh? okay...

    now you know, how the STATE feels about It's, collective self

    Soon you'll become tone deaf, & develop parent's ear

    go back & re-listen to this video in the context of, Government- as to, it's Citizenry, instead parent to child.

    Is it feedback? or is it data collection?

    many children have pre-birth memories & think in complete thoughts to include a full sense of honor & integrity; their issue is communication only. check it, you'd be surprised at the number of claims

  • Hey Stef, Great video as usual. Just a thought occured to me when i was watching @ 10:00 - 11:30+. When asking for feedback. How to put this correctly ... At what point do you stop asking these questions so you dont become a subservient, or "used" by your child, wife, not that they will but are 'human'. How do you approach asking those question as to not to become dominated / become submissive. Some people will submit totally where others will know the threshold when not to submit. Thank you!

  • I started listening to your philosophies not too long ago, and didnt know you were a father. Just a belated congrats, best of luck and best wishes to your family.

  • Thank you for the video, I agree completely with how important parenting is. This child is yet another generation of our species, and seeing that all life is tuned for the surivival of a species, parenting is the most important job we can have. Sadly, im single and still in college, so not only do i not have someone to help with this child (get the joke, hehe), but i dont have the time i would like to devote to a child. Someday, someday :)

  • Very nice video, I shall forward this to my sister who just had a baby.

  • Defining yourself in front of your child as what the perfect father would be in your opinion is a tricky situation that might result in a spoiled child syndrome or in projecting the wrong image to the child, that may lead to surprises in her teens, right?

    As long as she's not going to seriously cry, she will choose you over any other human being, excepting her mother :)

    Be yourself, be firm, show her you love your wife and she has a strong family to support her, and you'll do excellent!

    Thanks!

  • I'm sorry, this is kind of sick, but I couldn't help but laugh at 11:56 - 12:04

    Maybe i need help? :S

    Anyway, great video. I'm sure she will become a virtuous, honorable adult.

  • Me too. Stef would like to do that, but he has to settle for adult diapers.

  • Comment removed

  • I wish my father had ever cared half as much for my feelings as you care for your daughter's. His general philosophy is "you have to love me because I'm your dad and therefor you think I'm wonderful."

  • I am so sorry to hear that, my deep sympathies!

  • ^_^ it seems to be the case more often than not, at least among people my age that I know. At least this way I've got a good idea of what not to do!

  • lol he said this is a short video but the vid is 17 minites.lol

  • for me, this is quite short :)

  • lol i very much agree.

  • Or, take a tazer over to the cot... "Dzzzz"

  • @hughtub

    But you could say were kind of fans (is that the correct word?) we may be the only ones that got the joke.

  • All you can do is guide them.

    Love and patience are more important than money and possesons.

    I wish your family all the love in the world and hope that the love between you grows as you do.

  • Your baby's gotta be one of the luckiest in the world, to be born to parents who are so curious about and responsive to her needs.

  • wonderful !!

  • Stefan, you are an incredible communicator and intellect.  i really enjoy your videos, especially your statism ones. you seem like a great dad too

  • Wonderful, Stefan!

    Your videos are so full of reason and passion all at the same time!

    Superb!

    I look forward to part 2!

  • lol doesnt sound like my parents

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