nPosted on March 18, 2019
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nThis holiday is supposed to remind kids and parents that nobody is perfect, that everybody makes mistakes, and that everybody needs forgiveness once in a while.
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nThat’s nice. I like the fact that this “holiday” might encourage some families to talk to one another more, to share their feelings more honestly, and to apologize to and forgive one another…
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nBut I noticed one sentence in a holiday write up: someone wrote, “Parents don’t have a guide book.”
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nAnd I thought to myself, well, that’s exactly wrong, because parents have access to WAY TOO MANY guide “books.”
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First, there are all the actual parenting books. But these books don’t agree with one another: Some books say to set a firm schedule for sleeping; other books say to find the rhythms that fit the family. Some books say to schedule a baby’s feedings; other books say to feed on demand. Some urge parents to calmly use physical discipline such as a swat on the butt, others say parents should never hit their kids.
First, there are all the actual parenting books. But these books don’t agree with one another: Some books say to set a firm schedule for sleeping; other books say to find the rhythms that fit the family. Some books say to schedule a baby’s feedings; other books say to feed on demand. Some urge parents to calmly use physical discipline such as a swat on the butt, others say parents should never hit their kids. n
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Keep your child away from germs. / Don’t keep your kid in too clean an environment – she/he needs exposure to dirt and other yick.
Keep your child away from germs. / Don’t keep your kid in too clean an environment – she/he needs exposure to dirt and other yick.n
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nClosely monitor and limit screen time. / Kids need unfettered (although age appropriate) access to the tools of our culture – so that means smart phones, tablets, computers.
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Never fight with your partner in front of the kids. / Authenticity and modeling appropriate couple-fighting behavior is awesome: kids should see others disagree, compromise, argue, and make up.
Never fight with your partner in front of the kids. / Authenticity and modeling appropriate couple-fighting behavior is awesome: kids should see others disagree, compromise, argue, and make up.
With all the different parenting books saying all the bajillions of things that they do, it turns out that a lot of the advice in Book A is counter to advice in Books B and C and D. There are way too many parenting books, and they can’t all be right!!
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Aside from actual books, there is a ton of parenting advice – much of it contradictory – in documentaries, TV specials, magazine and newspaper articles; on websites, Facebook, and other social media; on offer from relatives and friends and teachers and doctors and nurses and strangers and everyone else under the sun!
Aside from actual books, there is a ton of parenting advice – much of it contradictory – in documentaries, TV specials, magazine and newspaper articles; on websites, Facebook, and other social media; on offer from relatives and friends and teachers and doctors and nurses and strangers and everyone else under the sun!n
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nSo, yes, forgive Mom and Dad, because they were super confused about which advice to follow, which advice to ignore, and which advice to argue against.
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nAlso on this date:
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Awkward Moments Day
Awkward Moments Day n
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President Cleveland and Vice-President Calhoun’s birthdays
President Cleveland and Vice-President Calhoun’s birthdaysn
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nMathematician Christian Goldbach’s birthday
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nNational Flag and Anthem Day in Aruba
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nAnniversary of invention of the electric shaver
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Anniversary of the Biggest Art Theft Ever
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nMen’s Day in Mongolia
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nBirthday of Martha Tucker, activist for indigenous rights in Australia
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nWellderly Day
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n(Third Monday in March)
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nPlan ahead:
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nCheck out my Pinterest boards for:
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nAnd here are my Pinterest boards for:
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nApril holidays
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