In getting parenting right, do you agree that it is mostly about common sense? Despite expert opinions and advice, parents have to trust their own knowledge, gut and abilities when it comes to raising their children in the best environment?
It's easy to get lost and overwhelmed with parenting when there's too many information available. Sometimes having all the resources — from family and friends, books, television and the internet — can only make parenting more complicated.
Parents are bombarded with expert tips and advice, or studies and theories, or stories about parenting failures and success on a daily basis. It's hard to say which one from these tips, theories or stories parents must follow because there is no correct answer to parenting dilemmas.
According to Cheryl Magness of The Federalist, parenting should not be regarded as rocket science. People have been parenting for centuries, which means common sense rules above everything even if there are many expert opinions to learn from.
Magness said parents need only to remember the basic rules based on common sense. This includes providing for the kids, protecting the children, playing with the children and teaching them skills. Parents also need to inculcate in their kids the love of God and the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
Kate Symons of the Daily Telegraph wrote about the follies of modern parenting. She acknowledged that while there are actually plenty of parenting manuals from online experts, gurus, bloggers, online forum discussions, this wealth of knowledge can lead to over-parenting. Worse, some tips and advice might only bring conflict and confusion or judgment and disapproval, thus making child-rearing an ever stressful job.
"Parenting relies heavily on common sense and feeling your own way," Symons wrote. She reminded parents that while everyone has their struggles, they are not alone figuring out if they are doing the right thing.
