My number one parenting philosophy is to make your kids as normal as possible. As soon as you try to make them unique or extraordinary is when you mess them up. Unique names. Apple. Moon Unit. You are getting a swirlie. Unique clothing. Wedgie. If the kid wants a Barbie backpack, get it. Don’t get righteous and say that your kid won’t get sucked into the evils of mainstream consumption. When they go to school with an Evel Kinevel lunch pail that you think is awesome, they will be shunned. Make your kids as normal as possible. I am not setting low expectations for my kids. I want the sky for my kids but I want them to make the choices, not me. If my kid wants a Rainbow Brite T-shirt because she thinks its old school, I will get it. Her choice.
The problem with my philosophy is eating. I want my kids to be normal. I don’t my daughters to go to a party never have eaten cake. Never had a sip of pop. Never had a cookie. What’s a gummie worm? I guess I’m afraid if I hide those things from them that they will go hog wild once they do have access to them. I remember that they had to ban pixie sticks and Jolt cola at my elementary school because the kids were going crazy. At the same time, I don’t want them to develop the bad habits that I developed.
I want my kids to have a good relationship with food. I want them to make the right choices. I don’t want them to be the “never had sugar” kids either. I think its kind of weird when parents say no to their kids but are eating whatever they want. That’s not fair. Do as I say not as I do. Its kinda bullshit. I want to be an example for my kids and moderation and normalcy is the example I want to set.
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