Good parenting is not available in stores. It’s not something you can buy and have delivered to your doorstep. We all know that. It’s just that lately, it seems good parenting has taken a backseat to commercialism. Parenting magazines are chock full of the latest products. Everything is about making a sale. Likely, I’ll even make a little money on this parenting article. Hopefully, I’ll also make a few people think.
What inspired this thought? I recently watched a show in which a couple were asked what they were doing to prepare for the birth of their child. Their response was an endless list of products they were buying. There was no mention of parenting classes, advice from friends or Mom and Dad. Just a bunch of stuff they were buying to make parenting easier. It occurred to me that this was no isolated incident. Parenting products are big business.
Of course there are things every parent needs. There are items every child needs too. Food, clothing and shelter top the list. There are a few gadgets and gizmos that keep baby safe as well. For instance, baby monitors alert you to baby’s cries in the middle of the night. That’s all well and good, but…. What I’m saying is, there is much more to parenting than what you see in parenting magazines. Parenting is hard work. Nothing you buy in a store will change that.
Sure, you can buy parenting books. They have tons of helpful advice. There is, however, a limit to what they can do. If you’re not emotionally and physically ready to be a parent, no book in the universe will change that. So, when someone asks you what you’re doing to prepare for your little bundle of joy, remember, it’s not about the products, it’s about the person. Are you the type of person that makes a good parent? How do you know?
Do you have endless patience? You’ll need it. Those five hour crying sessions are no joke. Neither are those teen years or the terrible twos. Patience is not available in stores. You can’t get it from a book either. It’s not as cute as that flowery little sundress or those tiny pink cowboy boots. Still, if you don’t have the patience to raise your child properly you won’t need either. Those fancy baby toys are just tomorrow’s trash. Patience will serve you well for the rest of your life as a parent and grandparent.
How’s your mental stability? Are you an emotional wreck? How about your relationship? Parenting can take a toll on even the most secure households. Do you have a savings account or did you blow it all on designer cribs and giant stuffed animals? Your child will need financial security. They won’t get it if you’re trying to buy your way into their heart. Are you in the right frame of mind to be a parent? Do you realize you’re not just having a baby, but becoming responsible for raising a valuable member of society? If not, you might as well return all the cutesy stuff until you are. Good parenting is not available in stores.
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