Who's driving this bus?

Aren’t we all new parents?

2005-01-15T20:39:00.000-05:00

Aren’t we all new parents? Not that we’re necessarily new to parenting, but we are always faced with new situations. I was recently at a party where the hosts were toasting their 'baby' who at 29 became engaged. They were now new to the idea of welcoming an in-law child to their family, and meeting with her family for the first time.

It's different than the first time our toddler's started exploring, and you needed to get down on all fours to see the dangerous world of electrical outlets and household cleaners through their eyes. Or the first time, you realized that other people, either positively or negatively, would have an influence on your child. Or the first time your child played a sport, or an instrument, or had a friend over. As a parent, you're always experiencing something new.

Recently for me, it’s a new driver. I saw this one coming, but never realized how nervous I would be. For my son, it's just exciting.

Actually, it's all new and exciting, just like the New Year. Whether it's a parent seeing their baby roll over for the first time, or smile, or yes, even drive for the first time, each of us needs to let another enjoy the moment, and try not ‘top’ the conversation. Even if they just want to gush about it.

It would be a terrific New Year’s resolution if each of us could step back and simply listen, responding only with a smile.

Good for Kraft

2005-01-14T21:50:00.000-05:00

The nightmare begins when a mom takes her 2 1/2 year-old food shopping. After painstakingly shielding the little tykes from the TV, she has only temporarily deflected the multi-billion dollar advertising budget aimed directly at her kids.

As a desperate housewife, she tries to avoid Aisle 5 (yes, cereals) where the store layout folks careful toddler positioning of sugar coated cereals, with licensed characters practically jumping off the box yelling, "Buy me!"

Kudos to Kraft foods, for finally listening and promising to back off the advertising of unhealthy foods. http://www.kraft.com/newsroom/01122005.html

Ok moms, now let's get after supermarkets to create 'parent-friendly' check out aisles free of candy and last minute junk toy purchases. Let's hear it for ants on a log!

They're just making it harder for parents

2005-01-06T21:38:00.000-05:00

I'm a little confused.

Schools cannot give children aspirins, or allow them leave the school premises without a note. But the California Attorney General recently issued an opinion that California schools cannot inform parents if their children leave campus to receive certain confidential medical services that may include abortion, AIDS treatment and psychological analysis.

The Washington Supreme Court ruled that the state law prohibits parents from eavesdropping on a child's phone conversation. The case reached the high court because it involved a purse-snatching. The girl's 17-year old boyfriend was convicted of the robbery, in part on testimony from the girlfriend's mother who was listening in on the call.

Both stories involve raising teenagers, and that has always been tough. In 400 BC, Socrates said, "Children today are tyrants. They contradict their parents, gobble their food, and tyrannize their teachers. " Nothing new here. Except that our hands are tied by these ridiculous laws.

Teenagers are still our children; our responsibility. According to the National Institute of Health, teenagers brains are still being wired, which means they are still learning to make the right choices. That is where we [parents] come in. We're still doing our job; that is, if they let us.