My Dear Child, I don't know what day it is, month, or the year. I don't even know what sex you are. As I sit here writing this, I don't know anything
Jacque Hill
Dev Psy
T&R 8:00 – 9:15 am
My Dear Child,
I don’t know what day it is, month, or the year. I don’t even know what sex you are. As I sit here writing this, I don’t know anything about you. I waited to have you, a lot longer then friends of mine. Most of them were married and having kids by your age. I waited because I wanted to be set, prepared emotionally and financially for children before I brought them into this world. You don’t get a say in your environment when your born, and I didn’t want to bring you into one that couldn’t be everything you need and deserve. I know what that’s like, and I will give you more.
In my opinion, a good parent is one that is patient, kind, understanding, giving, a curious mix of flexibility and firmness, a quick learner, and last but not least, loving. A parent has to be patient. You’re a teacher to someone who has no understanding, of anything. You have to be patient. Kindness is something taken for granted by most people. Living with someone, learning from them, without basic human kindness slants a relationship. A relationship can be formed, but it isn’t one that I would want with my child. Understanding, because you have to be able to look at a situation from someone else’s point of view besides your own. You’re not just living for yourself anymore. Giving is also a must, because you will now be giving everything you’ve worked for your whole life to a stranger. Not just giving yourself, which you will, your time, your energy, everything you hold close, but also your money, home, life, everything you possess. As for the curious mix of flexibility and firmness, there are times when everything you planned in perfect detail, goes straight to poo. You have to be able to be flexible and roll with the punches, because there are going to be millions of them. You also have to be flexible with what your child wants, your ideals and your dreams for your child, may not be what they actually want, you have to be able to step back from time to time, and let go. Then there are times when you have to stand your ground and not give in when everything around you says there’s no possible way you can help, when your child has tears rolling down their face because you’re mean and won’t let them have the “bestest” toy on the market that you’d have to take a second mortgage on the house out to afford. It also helps to be firm when you know your child is trying to see how far they can push you, see what all they can get away with. A quick learner is something that would make the whole transition from a life on your own to one you have to share with this constantly screaming pooping, eating, sleeping machine who doesn’t understand the fact that it’s 2:45 am and you haven’t had a full hour of uninterrupted sleep for 5 days. As for loving, you have to be. You shouldn’t bring a child into this world without being able to show them how much you love them, how you will always be there for them, that your love for them is totally unconditional and never ending. Children need that reassurance.
