parenting revisited

[Guest guest]

<< Linda, what is appropriate parenting? When one decides one way is

appropriate over another, much judgement comes into play... <<

Dear Lynette, well, actually, by "appropriate parenting," I was

referring to the post in which a lovely, nonjudgemental definition

was shared. I know full well the danger, actual real danger to a

child, if you attempt to speak to the parent directly. The parent may

well take it out on the child.

I suppose I am talking about the kind of campaigning I have seen some

hospitals do, or the March of Dimes. There was a major campaign on

shaken baby syndrome while I was working on the issue of timely

vaccination. You don't point fingers; you just put out information ~

a shaken baby may suffer brain damage; a shaken baby may die, etc.

Or, in my case, making available easy to use, no nonsense, and

non-medicalese info about immunizations and the timetable for them

(which is becoming increasingly complicated as the list of things

shots are developed to prevent grows). I am also very well aware of

the anti-immunization movement and learned to be very respectful to

other points of view. I have seen wonderful parent education

information put together by hospitals that speak of the importance of

love to a child and give some specific examples (paying attention is

one). So, I do think it is possible to foster change without leveling

judgement. Of course, it could be argued that any attempt to change is

a judgement, but without some people working in this way, many more

species would have been lost than have been, more ecology, more

families, more children...etc. In any case, that career is behind me

and my current focus is on communicating through art and music.

Shanti ~ Linda