I see a lot of commentary, especially on Lemmy and Reddit, about how awful children are and how wonderful adulthood without kids is. And if you don’t want them, more power to you.
On the other hand, many people are parents and love having children! I want to hear some of the positive stories. What about being a parent makes your life better? What’s your favorite thing about your kids?
I always worry about getting one that just naturally is. You’ll hear people say it’s all up to the parents, but if it was really like that shitty people would have died out. (Since shitty parents sometimes raise nice kids)
Like, what do I do then?
We were constantly told by doctors, therapists, psychiatrists, school resource people, counsellors, IEP coordinators, etc… variations of “just, ya know, do your best” when we would ask what we should do, in their expert opinions. I think we were good parents but our daughter really struggled. I’m sure we could have done things better/differently. But we did try our best. She’s 24 and still not on her feet.
That’s my biggest fear is that one of my kids will grow up and be a fucking incel or a white supremacist or something but I think that my own parenting style kind of precludes that. Honestly, I think that the most important thing is to just be there for your kids, take an interest in their lives, show them what it means to be cool by example
I have one who’s difficult. She’s just turned 16. I’m a very chill parent but sometimes I have to be firm with her. I tell myself I’m trying to raise her to be kind which she struggles with sometimes as she’s very self focused but she’s getting there and I have high hopes she’ll turn out great.
So I suppose the answer to your question from my perspective is just “keep on trucking with the goal in mind”.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1242460