The Washington Post has a interesting article in which a self-confessed liberal mother confesses that her ideas are ruining her parenting.
Kudos for her honesty!
Important quotes include these:
“I’m a diehard, bleeding-heart liberal. And it’s ruining my parenting.
My intentions are good. I want my two daughters, 6, to think critically, to fight for fairness and justice whenever they can. I want them to value equality above all else. But sometimes, I also need them to do what I say. This contradiction is hard to explain….”
“I’ve given them power they don’t know what to do with. So minor decisions that should be left to the parent (like, say, wearing tights without holes in them) become ruthless, time-consuming battles that add unnecessary dissonance to their lives.
I thought my parenting approach would lead to strong, confident girls who are able to assess situations and logically thwart unequal systems. And it probably will, someday. But right now? They’re 6. The lessons I’ve taught them have led to two very dissatisfied girls who don’t know if their mother is their friend, their adversary or their keeper.”
And finally…
“I should have stuck to the well-worn, well-tested “life isn’t fair, and I call the shots” route when my girls were babies and toddlers. Because what isn’t fair is asking children to think and behave like adults before they have the mental ability to do so.”
God’s ways as explained in his word are always best. Look for our Biblical Parenting Principles CD coming Winter 2015.
