Isaac, Behave

(A parenting poem in some jest)

When we're in church and you can't sit nice
And the scripture's about child sacrifice,
I cannot cope.

You should pray when I go to punch your ticket
That the Lord provides a ram in the thicket.
 It's your only hope.

Before church, I tamed your wild hair.
We stand for hymns and kneel for prayer.
It's what we do.

Yes, you have to wear church sandals.
Yes, they're going to light the candles.
Now sit in the pew.

From HuffPo: 10 Common Mistakes Parents Today Make

A friend posted this on facebook, and I gave it a quick read.  It's a useful list that lends perspective to parenting in the current era.  It feels a little Fox Newsy to me, though.  By that, I mean that parents who make these mistakes are so blind to them that this article won't change their approach.  Parents who don't make these mistakes (or recognize them when they slip into them on rare occasions) will sit back smugly and think about all of the bad parenting they observe...done by other parents.  Of course, this blog is only frequented by savvy people, so if you read the list, get ready to get your smug on.

One note the author doesn't really hit upon: kids whose parents make these mistakes are miserable children.  They know they're not supposed to be in charge, and the weight of being in charge weighs on their smooth, little shoulders.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kari-kubiszyn-kampakis/10-common-mistakes-parents-today-make-me-included_b_4753451.html 

Other Bloggers Agree

It was nice to see this post from a lady blogger on a friend's facebook wall.  It's very much in keeping with the spirit of Competent Parent.

http://shaunaniequist.com/dads-arent-dumb/