RE: Honoring dc's requests....how much of the time do you do it? (long, of course!)
I've been thinking about similar issues a lot recently. I have started to think about family life in a different way than I had, regarding everyone's wishes for activities, etc. So, why should my desire to organize the diapers or fold clothes trump Fory's desire to play with me? Some would say that I'm the grown-up, so I win, whenever I want to. That seems unfair to me, since I'd hate it if every moment of my life was subject to someone else's whim. But, on the other hand, I also don't subscribe completely to non-coercive parenting, non-coercive parents say that their child NEVER has to do anything they don't want to, and that they get to do everything they want to, unless dangerous. I figure our relationship is a give and take. Sometimes, I really need to fold those clothes, or don't have the energy left for a wrestling match. But, other times, we do play. So I try to make it fair, and think "why am I saying no? Is this important?", when conflicts come up. I think my DH and I are pretty much on the same page with these things.
Tarah
Mama to the Forrest Creature 3/04 and Baby Ber 4/07
"All true wealth is biological" Cordelia Naismith Vorkosigan