I shall share by tweeting, it’s somewhat like sharing a cold without the nasal drainage.

The plain fact of the matter is that some 4-5 billion of the people on this planet have been and/or are being horribly abused, at least emotionally, if not physically, psychologically, financially, environmentally, and legally. And most of the rest of us get a major taste of the same thing.

This is not to say we should just grin and bear it. Oh no. But there’s no point in polemicizing about stopping all births until we finish the training on how to parent.

Instead, we oughta be working on the positive side of things.

One possibility: making parenting a kind of “trust” — like lawyers or financial planners handling your affairs and your money — with a code of ethics, an enforcement body, and plenty of prestige.

Your thoughts?

If they’d asked my mother-in-law, she’d have said we should get a puppy or two instead. So it’s a good thing they didn’t. Puppies are such trouble but, then again, they don’t have kennels for kids when you need to get away. But then again, again, the relatives are happier to take in a kid for a day or two than a dog. At least, any dog I’ve ever had.

I’m against testing for parenthood, though. Tests tend to foster conformity. That’s a good thing for driving, so the majority of people drive on the right (correct) side of the road most of the time. But for something as important as parenting we need all the diversity, all the new and old ideas we can get.

It is amazing that we muddle through. Sometimes we succeed, sometimes we fail, mostly we do the best we can and that’s good enough.

If I were you, though, I’d cut out the heroin. It takes a real bite out of the tuition budget.

But keep up the humor; that’s the best skill a parent ever had.

Some parents DO actuelly have to pass several tests: adoptive parents. In Denmark we have a very thorough system. The intention is to secure the child, which is adopted. You have to attend a 4 days course, talk several times with the social workers, your economy is investigated, your health is checked etc. etc.

It is tough to go through, but the result is totally worth every moment when you are permitted (blessed) to adopt a child.

In my blog, I wrote about supermoms and the perception that balancing work and motherhood is a terrible thing to be avoided at all costs. I loved Campbell Brown’s comments about becoming “supermom” and trying to balance it all. In your case, you are discussing the powers that come with exclusivity of being a full-tme mom, which I love and respect greatly.

There are some who feel playing career person and mother should be avoided at all costs. I happen to live in that world – full time sales and full time mother. Yes, it’s hard. Yes, there are days I wish I could quit my job and be just supermom as a full-time parent only. But, thank God, I am learning to embrace both sides of my identity and now love to wear my cape proudly to those who put folks like me down! (and even folks like you who love being mom and can do it full time)

Keep it up, great article!!