Child Rearing Philosophies

I went to a Super Bowl party last night with a lot of family and friends. We had a really good time, and the boys were very well behaved.

Among the guests at this event were two couples with teeny infants. Aside from the voracious baby lust that someone else's smiling, happy, clean-smelling infant inspires in every female, (and don't even try to deny it), these little ones brought thoughts to my mind of different ways of raising children. Now, these two couples and my husband and I have certain similarities. We are all Christians, and we are raising our children in Christian homes. We are all rabidly Republican, and extraordinarily conservative. Two of the three families have stay at home moms, and the other mom and dad work part-time so their son is only in daycare three days a week -- with me, actually. :)

But there are also extreme differences, as in every family. We talked a little about that last night, about our different child-rearing philosophies. I am a very laid back mom, much more so than these two moms at this point. I must say, however, in my defense, that by the time they have three boys aged 6, 5 and 3 (an impossibility in one case, as they already have a daughter . . .), they will not react to screams and loud thumps as quickly, either.

So, I have decided to set forth some of my child-rearing philosophies:

1) If it is part of a healthy breakfast, it is equally acceptable as part of a healthy dinner.

2) If a child is old enough to take it out, said child is old enough to put it back.

3) Going down the slip and slide can substitute for a bath, when you are running late.

4) Artwork can be thrown away. Really. It's okay. Try not to let the kid see it, and traumatize them, but there is only so much space available.

5) It is perfectly fine for the clothing you choose to get dressed in to be a pair of footie pajamas, if we're not going to town today.

6) If a child is happy in what they are wearing, and it is seasonally appropriate, it is all good. It doesn't matter if it "matches." Who determines what "matches," anyway?

7) There are times when locking children on the back porch to give Mom a minute of peace and quiet is really in their best interests.

8) There is a constitutional amendment needed badly in this country, which would require that every mother be permitted to pee without company at least once per day.

9) Children aren't that fragile, physically. It takes a lot to break a kid -- I haven't broken one yet!!

10) Children are a lot more fragile than you think, emotionally and spiritually. Handle that part with care.