Mind your own buisness..Geez

I think its hard not to take parenting seriously. Most people love their children and try to do what is best for them. The problem is that there is no best. What works for one child or family may not work for another. Also, parents are limited by their experience, knowledge, and faults. If parents try to take parenting too seriously, they start to deny their children some of the joys of childhood, love, adventure, etc. I think most parents struggle with trying to make sure their children have a good time in life while trying to make sure they learn the rules as well. It’s easy to fall to far one way or the other.

As far as experts, I take a little from here and little from there. If I am having a problem, I will search the child care books until I find a suggestion that seems to gel with my parenting style. I’ll will combine ideas to suit me. Often, the best resources are family and friends. In many ways, I trust them more because I have seen the results of their parenting. With some issues, like food, I’ve decided to follow my doctor’s advice. As with everything else, there is lots of conflicting opinions about there about how to feed your kids. I figure if I am going to have him monitor my kids’ well-being, I might as well follow his advice.

No; I consider that parents are so busy trying to find out what “experts” think (many of whom weren’t particularly present for their own kids — if they even ever HAD kids!) that they forget the most important mantra: you know your kids better than anyone.

I used a T. Berry Brazelton’s “Touchpoints” book and Dr. Spock’s “Baby and Child Care” as quick-reference, but considering there are so many books out there for how to parent, it gets so frustrating. I’ve read three different books on how to raise boys — all which had different ways to raise boys.

OK. Firstly, no, I don’t think most parents take parenting seriously. I think most parents think that children will raise themselves.

I haven’t read too many parenting books. I think I have it pretty under control. And when I don’t know what to do I look back at what my parents did and change it a little.

My main concern as a parent is that I will raise my children and they will hate me. Not for the things I did do… but for those I didn’t. For not being there enough for them. For the times I forget what I promise. I don’t want my children to grow up to be spiteful and to be judgmental of others.

Yes, I do think the parents who don’t take it seriously will have an effect on my children. You see it everyday. In the classroom, on the playground, on the school bus, on Television. You see children whose parents don’t want to be parents acting up. You see your child not getting that attention for being a “good kid” because the “bad kid” needs all the attention for correcting problems that should have been corrected before that child hit school age.

No, I don’t trust expert advise. Nobody knows my children the way I do. Nobody knows how to get them to obey like I do. And I am not going to change what I see working for something some “expert” says in a book. That is my opinion.

Absolutely not. To many parents are trying to be their child’s friend and not their child’s parent. I have a life time to be my child’s friend (no-I have no children) and only eighteen years to parent them. I know you don’t stop parenting once they turn eighteen, but by then hopefully one would have done their job and the child is a responsible adult.

Yes, I think most parents take their job very seriously. You can’t think about the future every minute or you’ll miss the present, but I think we all try and think as far ahead as we can.

Parenting books are okay. I have the “What to Expect” series and they are so-so. I read Babywise which was okay as well. I’ve read good ones and bad ones. Someone once described reading parenting books as grocery shopping. You pick up what you want/need and leave the rest behind. That’s what I do.

I do ask for advice when I need it, but I might not follow it. When my dd was having problems eating as a baby, I talked to my ped and when I didn’t feel his advice was helpful, turned to my mom who was able to help me. Other times I’ve flat out ignored what my mom said. I listen to what people say (or write), process it, decide if it works for me, and then use it or toss it.

I say most of the parents still need parenting.