The Trouble with Parenting Articles

She is a mother of three aged 9, 4 and 1. A girl and two boys respectively. A bit of a balancing act especially when you've just opened a new store. She wouldn't trade them for anything in the world—in fact would love to have many more. (Maybe she loved the movie/book "Cheaper By The Dozen".)

Anyway, the point she made to me about many articles and books about parenting is that they are written as if everyone has just one child. It seems that her impression is that most of the writers have become experts with only one child. I heartily agree that many times the advice we're given is by experts and professionals who maybe are only dealing with one child.

Every situation is different. The single parent with two or more children has challenges that a parent of one does not really encounter. I know that as a parent of two with a partner there is some juggling but generally very manageable. With three or more children and even two parents it's not always easy. Sometimes it's nice for a parent to separate them all—the old divide and conquer rule.

With parenting articles, we may end up feeling guilty or incompetent because the ideas just don't work for us. As I've said before don't take them all too seriously or literally, adopt the ideas that work for you and, by all means, use your commonsense.

As much as we'd like to find there is a magic solution to our challenges—there isn't—so try your best.