This is Part 1 in a two part series on Minimalist Parenting.
Don’t you think there’s a lot of pressure on parents today?
I mean, for goodness sake…
Read to your children.
Sing to your unborn children.
Prepare healthy, nutritious, range free, sustainable, renewable, organic, local meals.
Organize your home.
Let the dishes go, because for goodness sake your children are growing up fast and you’re missing it, because you’re dawdling in your organic, sustainable home garden that’s producing enough food to care for the needs in your neighborhood.
Play with your children.
Take care of your own health, you’re looking soft – Run a marathon or swim to Europe or something.
Be a model of physical fitness for your child.
Get a bike, put your kids in a cart, and ride cross-country with them.
Buy your child a helmet and make him wear it even if he throws a temper tantrum. Do not, under any conditions tolerate tempter tantrums. Just ignore him, he’ll outgrow it. You’re not playing Tonka trucks enough with your son or else he wouldn’t be throwing tempter tantrums.
Read more. Aloud. Together.
Sports. That’s the way to teach teamwork and get good exercise.
Life isn’t just about you and your house, get involved in this world. Show your kids how to love other people.
Play, read, repeat.
Oh, and don’t forget about that garden. It’s time to can, jelly, freeze, and dry the fruit of your labor.
How about you DIY your kitchen after that canning is done. It could absolutely use a remodel. I think you would cook healthier meals if your kitchen was DIY’d.
Stay in your budget.
Organize.
Play board games.
Do homework. Enter every science fair. Volunteer. Bake cupcakes without sugar or gluten, but make them look cute enough to be pinnable. Bring them to school.
Don’t bring them school.
They want veggie platters created from the fruit of your garden and those veggies cannot resemble regular vegetables. Make them look like cute edible bugs, or spaceships, or better yet, make them look like books.
You know, you really should work outside the home. Your lacking social skills and a paycheck.
Don’t work outside the home. Stay home with your little spawn of the devil who is dripping milk from the corner of his mouth for as long as possible.
Homeschool.
Yes.
That will solve all your problems and you’ll have to time to read aloud and play with your children.
What ever happened to the days when just keeping your child alive until he turned eighteen was enough?
If you’re a parent who feels overwhelmed, join me tomorrow for a book review of Minimalist Parenting by Christine Koh and Asha Dornfest.
Part 2: Book Review – Minimalist Parenting
Can you identify with anything in this list?
As a parent, what pressures are you feeling from society, your friends and family, or other parents?
Oh my goodness! I thought it was me!! I was thinking to myself earlier what a lazy underachieving mommy I was and how horrible and screwed up my children would be just because I cannot do it all. All the things that were mentioned I have come across at some point during the past month. Getting prepared for back to school I have pinterested (did I say it right?) some things and one thing takes you to the other and by the time my husband was home from work I was in tears. I am so happy to see that I am not the only one feeling the pressure of not being able to be a cover mom.
Great post. There are too many musts and shoulds. I agree, keep ‘em alive until they have to keep themselves alive! #LOBS
Great post! Yes I feel overwhelmed! I love all these beautiful bloggers I read but sometimes it can be a total overload for sure. Totally going to check out this book.
No pressure or anything lol!
Yes. Yes I can. It’s all enough to make a parent go out they mind! I’m sticking with the old adage that if they make it to 18, you did your job. Add in prayer and a healthy smathering of kisses and hugs and call it a day!
Fringe girl, you forgot the organic diapers and newborn stimulation classes. It’s so tempting to send this article to my mama friends who are all into pinterest, organic, natural bpa and gmo’s free. They won’t talk to me again if I send them this.
Thank you so much for this really awesome post!! It’s very well written and I love it! Look at all those things… Who ever said that being a mom is easy? Oh my.. ooh! Still have lots of cleaning to do. Got go to and be a good mom!
Ok, I am stressed out just reading this list!! I am definitely not a helicopter parent though by any means! However, I do feel guilty because I don’t get as much done as I should. Following you everywhere now, including bloglovin!
Oh, this was great. And really, just love the picture!
Best. Blog entry. Ever. Ever!!! Thank you!! It is crazy and sad, the things that we moms feel we “must” do in order to be a good mom. I will never forget a quote I read that said, “Motherhood is the guiltiest profession”. Sure is!! Ever read any parenting books by Dr John Rosemond? He recalls the “old days” where we went and played outside and entertained ourselves all afternoon without being orchestrated or over-planned by helicopter parents. Looking forward to hearing about the book you mentioned too! Also check out “Mean Moms Rule”….another good one!!!
You haven’t even done the review yet and I am already hooked. There was nights I would cry because I was convinced, and told, that I was not doing nearly enough. “If I gave my son more time he probably would be talking by now” (then 6 months). “Oh you’re feeding him that?! It’s not organic, he’ll get cancer”. No sleep, no rest, and if you take a moment to let your kid play with his blocks alone while you look through Pinterest you are the worst person on the face of the planet. *headdesk* can’t wait to hear more about this book!