THE PARENTING MANIFESTO PROJECT
From Ken Cheung at Daddy Forever:
Parenting is not easy and it's not something most of us are prepared for. You could ask for advice and read books, but there's nothing like on the job training. While you are honing your parenting skills, you will discover some basic truths in the process. Below are some of the things I have learned in my six years as a dad. They are in no particular order and by no means, all-inclusive.
- Don't leave your baby alone with a toddler — even for two minutes. Otherwise, when you return, you may find your two-year old toddler sitting on top of the baby.
- Pay attention to what your kids watch. For instance, if your three-year old son watches X-Men 3, don't be surprise if he starts calling people, d**khead.
- Don't assume anything. In my case, my daughter told me her stomach hurts. I assumed it was just a stomachache. Twenty minutes after watching the bus take her away to school; I get a call to pick her up because she just threw up in the classroom.
- Single serving does not exist. If your kids like dinner, you will be lucky to get half a serving. On the other hand, if the kids don't like dinner, be prepare to eat multiple servings.
- Don't plan activities around your kid's bowel movements. You could wait all day and discover your kid isn't having one that day. Conversely, you could leave after your kid's bowel movement, only to discover the kiddo is having more than one that day.
- Changing tables are not always out in the open in bathrooms. One time, I couldn't find one, so I changed my daughter on the floor. Later, someone told me there was a changing table in the handicapped stall.
- Don't assume your kids know when to stop eating. Our two youngest kids use to eat and eat and eat...and then they would throw up from eating too much.
- Too much of anything, even fruits, isn't a good thing. Last summer, our kids ate fruit constantly, which eventually resulted in diarrhea.
- Be careful with what and how you say things to your kids. If you start screaming at your kid to stop doing something because of this and that, then don't be surprise if your kid starts screaming at the other siblings, using the same words and tone you used.
- Learn to say no in a better way. Telling a toddler you can't buy something they want can lead to a major meltdown. It will turn out better if you tell your child they can hold it until it's time to go home.
