This past weekend, I had the opportunity to spend time with some great people. It was a birthday barbecue, and a lot of the people there were parents of young children. All the kids were playing together in the pool or in the playhouse, or taking turns on the big wheels truck. For the most part all the kids got along great together. Perhaps a few scuffles here and there, but that's totally normal. What was even nicer than all the kids playing together and having fun was the fact that all the parents were able to talk to each other. And better still, we all had the same ideals.
One of the most important things I can say to you if you are a parent is surround yourself with other parents who have the same values and thoughts towards parenting. An extremely relaxed mother, and a mother who can't let a sniffle go by without calling the doctor, are going to end up annoying each other eventually. However, two mothers who can let their children play a little rough, or two mothers who both feel the same way when their children exhibit signs of sickness, are going to get along, because they agree on main points of parenting styles and have a lot to talk about.
There are many experiences I have as a parent that might be embarrassing to some (like having my child escape from the house without my knowledge) but when I'm around parents who have the same experiences, we can laugh about them and learn from them. It's nice to have validation for a certain style of parenting and there's a comfort that comes from knowing you're not alone.
John Ratzenberger said, "Find people who share your values, and you'll conquer the world together." Maybe we don't want to conquer the world, but it's nice to have all the help you can get as a parent.
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