Some Common Myths About Parenting

I don't think anyone would disagree that being a parent is not an easy task. Even though raising children can be the most rewarding adventure in the world, virtually no parent would argue that it isn’t a difficult journey, fraught with challenges along the way.

At the same time, moms and dads can avoid many common pitfalls, by not falling prey to the many common myths about parenting; myths that can do far more harm than good.

There are many who take the position that there is a right and a wrong way to raise a child. However, even the so-called child experts don't know everything there is to raising children. People who believe they know everything about parenting will tell you immediately when they see a “bad” mom or dad in action. The funny thing is, these self-appointed experts never seem to agree on the details. Sometimes the bad parent is too lenient, sometimes too strict. Moms and dads get criticized for not being sufficiently involved, and at the same time for being too clingy.

It should come as no surprise then that nobody truly knows everything there is to know about parenting. It doesn’t matter how many books a person has read. It doesn’t matter how many healthy, well-adjusted, successful children the person has raised. What works for one family will not work for every family. There is no universal truth about parenting, no complete formula for parenting success. Every parent has to fumble along the way, making the best decisions and trying as hard as he or she can. So don’t let anyone ever pass judgment on your parenting choices.

Thrown into this mix is the position that, in order to be a successful parent, the parent needs to be nothing short of perfect. Since we’ve already established clearly that raising a child is not an exact science, it naturally follows that a parent can’t be perfect in every way. Still, a widespread conviction about parenting persists; people can’t shake the notion that if they make a single mistake, they will ruin their children’s lives!

The fact of the matter is: absolutely no parent is a perfect parent. As parents, we make choices that seem best to us, based on what we believe, what we value, and what we know about our own kids. Sometimes, those choices don’t turn out the way we hoped. Sometimes, we make mistakes. The thing to remember about parenting is that it’s not scientific. There is in fact room for error. Not only do parents learn from their own missteps, but their children learn as well. Because in the end, the real truth about parenting is that it’s a growing process for the parents and the children together. It is a journey, and not a destination.

As long as your home is filled with love and your children know that you will always support them no matter what, you can't help but succeed. So, don’t sweat the details. And that’s the only truth anyone really needs to know about parenting!