It seems I’ve been raising children most of my life. Let’s see. My youngest left home this year and my oldest was born 37 years ago. I’m currently 65 so, doing the math, I have been raising children most of my life. OK not most, but a solid majority of my life, I’ve been raising children.
The natural question arises then, what have I learned from being a parent for so long a time? And perhaps even more importantly, what sage advice do I have for those about to embark (for better or worse, the determination of which will come, if ever, much, much later) on the wonderful (or horrible, depending on that final determination) job of parenting.
To answer that natural question, and in the spirit of trying to enhance the joy (or ease the burden, depending on that final determination), I offer the following:
THE TOP TEN RULES FOR RAISING CHILDREN (In no particular order except more or less in chronological order and sort of least to most important, but not really, as all are really important, but some, especially one, numbered 10, is most important)
1. Breast is better than bottle.
2. Always wipe front to back.
3. Babies are not as fragile as you think.
4. Toddlers need to toddle, and talk.
5. Adolescents are more fragile than you think.
6. Discipline is important.
7. Truth is mandatory.
8. Listening works better than lecturing.
9. There’s no such thing as too much self-esteem.
10. Love trumps everything else.
I may not know much about raising children, and all my children have suggested, at one time or another, that I know practically nothing at all. BUT THESE THINGS I KNOW TO BE TRUE.
12/01/11
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