Parenting

Parenting is defined as "the methods, techniques, etc., used or required in the rearing of children" by the Random House Unabridged Dictionary. In my childhood days, I bet my parents knew nothing about parenting. Dad's main concern would be bringing home the bacon while mom manages the household and the kids (4 of us to be exact). Did they apply any special methods or techniques? I asked my dad and he said "No lah!. What We just let you girls be. I think kids those days were not half as smart as kids today."

But look, my parent raised 4 great (yes, great! Hee...) children who turned out happy and healthy today. In fact, dad had to single-parent us when mom passed away 14 years back. So what's the problem with parenting or parents today? Why can't we be like my parents who let our kids be (in terms of play and having fun) and yet have faith that these kids will turn out decent??? It seriously got me thinking...

Then while having a chat with a friend via SMS one night on the topic of parenting, he mentioned his wife and him are currently leading a group of parents (both young and old) in church in a workshop entitled "Effective Parenting... In a Defective World" (a course series by Chip Ingram. Go to http://www.lote.org/ for more details). Reading the notes he emailed me brought so much insight into the parenting arena which has never crossed my mind. Well, if parental love and concern for their children had always remained the same, ceteris paribus, we can almost be certain that it is the society we lived in today that has cause parenting to change.

Well, parenting doesn't sound like fun to me now, though I actually thought it was so a few months back. Perhaps I'm starting to believe in the kiasu-nazis who so often stressed on giving the best to your child. I knew of quite a few moms who belonged to this nazis group as they buy only the best clothings/shoes and send their kids to the best childcare, playgroup or enrichment classes.

Nevertheless, I came to my senses. I looked into my gals' closet and found apparels from Baby Gap, Baby Guess, Baby B'gosh, Pumpkin Patch, Mothercare, Elle and Old Navy. They even received Nike shoes for their coming 1st birthday. I'm certain they are extremely well clothed and fed. After all, I gave them organic cereal! Hee... Our "best" may not meet the world's standard of The Best, but it is what Di and I can best offer them. This underlining principle is probably the same as what my parents had when were little. With this understanding, Di and I will do our best in parenting them while God will do the rest. On top of all the material provision, my best gift to them is prayer. And one day, they will learn to pray for themselves too. ^.^