Beware of the Fake News Especially About Good Parents

What if I told you much of what you hear about parenting is not true? Fake News!  What if I told you the color of one’s skin, race, creed or national origin has no predictive value on their potential to be a good parent?  Fake News!

What if I told you that neither gender, class, or socioeconomic status guarantee that one is more or less likely to be a good parent?  Fake News!   Would you stop continue believing you were a better or worse parent based on intentionally deceptive advertisement?  Would you keep subscribing to Fake News?

Ignoring Fake News

When it comes to parenting Fake News is everywhere.  Far too many media members and social pundits infer in posts, images, and video that successful parents routinely have the same homogenous genetic characteristics.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

Good parents come in all sizes, racial and ethnic groups.  Good parents are both rich and poor.  Good parents are both male and female. Good parents are both white-collar and blue-collar, college educated and graduates of the school of hard knocks.  I trust you get the point, anyone can be a good parent.

The 5 Obligations of Good Parents

Similar to the Fake News that pervades much of information we are inundated with daily, there is a twinge of truth included with the falsehood.  Having some element of truth is partly why Fake News is so believable.

Here’s the truth about parenting, good parents share many of the same traits.  However, these commonalities are internal, non-physical characteristics that are completely undetectable from simply looking at someone. Yet if you watch closely, listen to what parents say and observe what they do, you’ll find that most good parents do many of the same things:

So if you want to see what good parents look like, you need to ignore outside features.  Instead watch ALL parents closely, listen to what ALL parents say and observe what ALL parents do.  And after doing your homework, you’ll find that most good parents do many of the same things:

1. Preparation – Good parents arrange their lives in advance. Good parents organize everything within their power so that they may give their children the best chance to fulfill their potential. Good parents parent intentionally.
2. Goal Setting – Good parents set S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound) goals for their children.  Good parents leave as little to chance as possible. Good parents don’t simply set high expectations for their children, they establish a process for turning dreams into realities.
3. No Shortcuts – Good parents don’t look for shortcuts.  Good parents raise children who understand the importance of following directions and taking the most efficient route.  Life is a process and children who understand this have a head start in life.
4. No Excuses – Good parents don’t make excuses.  Good parents keep their word.  Short of an unavoidable emergency, a child learns from their parent that one’s word is their bond.  Good parents embrace the motto “if it’s going to be, it’s up to me”.
5. Devotion – Good parents devote themselves unconditionally to providing for the life they created.  Good parents also devote themselves to living in the moment.  Good parents live and love their children purposely as if tomorrow is not promised.

Breaking News!  Anyone can be a good parent!  All it requires is that you obligate yourself to live, breathe, and do the aforementioned five things each and every day.  I promise, no matter what your background, if you do these things, you will be a good parent! Are you up to the task or would you prefer to continue parenting based on Fake News?

Now are you up to the task of being a good parent or would you prefer to continue parenting based on Fake News?

Can you share examples about deceptive advertisement about what a “good parent” looks like?  How can you now put into action the things that good parents do? Share your thoughts and experiences below.

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