Hilarious Satire of Parenting Publications...

The New Yorker article, "New Parenting Study Released" by Sarah Miller is hilarious...

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/shouts/2014/03/new-parenting-study-released.html?mobify=0

Admittedly, I go through phases of love/hate/burn-out in reading such parenting articles/books/etc.  Perhaps I am drawn to reading them with the hopes of becoming a better parent...OR, simply because I actually find them interesting in a nerdy/psychological-study way.  But, the reality is that it is like learning to play a sport by reading a manual...impossible!  Just like changing diapers, nursing, calming a fussy baby, sleep habits, etc....it takes tons and tons and tons and tons of practice to figure things out.  AND, once you think you have it figured out, your child has moved onto a new phase, and these pearls of wisdom become obsolete.

New Yorker illustration by Jim Stoten

Furthermore, regardless of how much these theories and guidelines make sense from an academic perspective, putting them into practice is FAR more challenging.  Sometimes, I wonder whether the authors (a) have children at all? (b) have existing children that are walking success stories of these theories put into practice? (i.e. do these authors walk the talk?) OR (c) come up with these theories after their children leave the nest (which would make much more sense as hindsight is always 20/20)...

For example, I recently discovered Dr. Laura Markham's blog, Aha! Parenting.com....There are some REALLY good guidelines included in the following posts.  When I read these, I think, YES!!! This makes SO much sense.  If I follow this advice, it should be this easy! Yet, following through is always so much harder than it may seem...

"5 Strategies that Prevent Most Misbehavior" 

http://www.ahaparenting.com/_blog/Parenting_Blog/post/3_Strategies_That_Prevent_Most_Misbehavior/

"When Kids Simply Won't Cooperate"

http://www.ahaparenting.com/BlogRetrieve.aspx?PostID=318095&A=SearchResult&SearchID=7822646&ObjectID=318095&ObjectType=55

"10 Alternatives to 'Consequences' When Your Child Isn't Cooperating"

http://www.ahaparenting.com/BlogRetrieve.aspx?PostID=198968&A=SearchResult&SearchID=7822648&ObjectID=198968&ObjectType=55


Additionally, the following is an interesting/informative read about internal motivation ...ha, see how easy it is to get sucked back in?  The joys of parenthood ; )


http://mariamontessori.com/mm/?p=2482