With the constant bombardment of information, especially regarding parenting, I find myself wondering once in a while if I am supposed to be spending more time reading about it.  After looking at how I was raised, and often wondering how I survived it, I realize that my parenting style has absolutely nothing to do with my own upbringing, aside from knowing how not to do a lot of things.  I have gotten pretty good at giving myself a reality check in realizing that I have four happy, healthy well-adjusted kids.  Parenting has nothing to do with reading articles and books written by people that sometimes don’t even have children and others who, in reality, quite possibly may not be very good parents themselves.  After all, I don’t know them personally, so why should I put any stock in what they have to say.  So how did I get to be the parent I am today?

I approached having children with very much of a “I don’t know a lot, but I’ll do my best.“ attitude.  I had no idea just how seriously I would follow that.  Sure I read a few parenting books and magazines and got plenty of advice and thought that I had an idea of what being a parent is like.  But after our first was born, my biggest surprise was that not one person, book or magazine ever mentioned how absolutely amazing it is!  Not one of them mentioned that you won’t even know what your capacity for love is until you have a child of your own.  As a child, I don't remember experiencing it myself so I had no idea that it even existed.

That is the place where I parent from.  That is what drives my every decision regarding my kids.  That is what keeps me from being a parent of fear, and keeps me a parent who just knows what is right for my kids even if I have to search for some answers from time to time.  That is what reminds me to stay connected with my kids so that I may continue to parent this way.  This is how I know that helping my kids develop their talents is not only the right thing to do, but the responsible thing that I must do.  This is how I know that my children are each their own individual and who they are is perfect.