Page 204 - The Intentional Parent

about friendly animals.
The next big step is either visiting someone who has a very friendly dog or taking a trip to the pet store. Consult with someone who is a breeder or who knows a lot about dogs before making a purchase. Some animal lovers that I know tell me that mixed breeds (mutts) have the best temperaments and are the easiest to take care of. I was surprised to learn that poodles, which look like they would be relatively gentle and benign, are responsible for the most dog bites of any breed. My mailman has provided me with an informal and unscientific validation of this finding. I know this will probably draw ire from all of the friendly poodle owners out there, so I will apologize in advance.
NEEDING A NIGHT LIGHT
My daughter is six years old and still cannot get to sleep unless there is a night-light on. The other night, the light went out and she went into a panic. Shouldn't she be able to sleep without the night-light?
The light is evidently something that she has gotten used to and that gives her comfort and security. Some children remain fearful of the dark for a very long time (some adults I know aren't too crazy about sleeping in the dark either). Many times such fears can be traced back to other scary things (separations, move to a new house) that happen in childhood. If this is your daughter's only "little weirdness,” give her a break and let her sleep with a night-light. Eventually, she will forget that it is even there and she won't be concerned about it any more.
FEAR OF TOILET FLUSHING
The Intentional Parent by Peter J. Favaro, Ph.D. 204