Let me be the first to say that I am an outspoken, opinionated woman! I'm sure that surprises many . . . NOT! Especially if you know me, I mean REALLY know me. That being said, I don't say half of the things that come to my mind. If you REALLY KNOW me, you know that also. Many think I say everything I think , but seriously, I'd be brutal if I did.
Now that the preliminaries are out of the way, I'd like to say that when children are born, they do not come with a book of instructions. I'm sure we all wish they did. How we chose to parent our children is a compilation of our experiences and what we learn from others experiences. Isn't that how we learn most everything in life? I've been parenting for almost 19 years now and by no means am I the perfect parent. I was merely a child myself when I embarked on this huge journey. I (and my husband) have been given the task of molding brand new newborns who are "blank slates," into productive adults. It's a responsibility I (we) don't take lightly.
I believe in "old school" values and discipline . . to a degree. I don't believe in the "do as I say and not as I do" mentality. I believe hubby and I should set the example we want to see in our children. I believe in spankings but I don't believe that children should be "spanked" out of anger and just because. I believe in holding newborns and tending to toddlers needs, so forth and so on. I believe that as you learn better you do better. I believe that our children need our time, not gadgets as substitutes. There are so many things I believe, and I am open to doing anything that could improve the lives and character of my children. That being said, I will not, change how I parent my children based on what the general population chooses, and certainly not because someone else simply thinks I should do it their way. As I stated before, opinionated, yep that's me. If you ask me, I am definitely going to tell you. Honest feedback from perspective is exactly what you are going to get. I'm not ashamed of that. I have given "parenting advice" when solicited and admittedly, when not solicited. However, what one does with that information is up to his/her choosing. I don't have the master plan. Obviously I believe firmly in how I do things, otherwise, I wouldn't be doing them, but unless you are harming a child and a danger is perceived, it ends at advice. I give it, you do what you want with it.
Today, my parenting was challenged in a way that truly insulted me, hence the rant. While not the first time, I was very hurt and spent most of my day dwelling on it. In the end, I know that I am doing the best that I know to do with the children that God has blessed me with. I can sleep well tonight with that thought.
Tomorrow is a new day and I welcome the challenge head on!
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