Parenting Will Not Make You Any Money.
Parenting is not a job. So, if it’s not, then what is it?
I’m sure you’ve heard this phrase: “Your job as a parent is…” and what follows is some helpful (or not so helpful) advice on raising kids.
First, I’m not opposed to hearing some well-intentioned advice for raising my kids.
I love to give parents advice as well. I like to think I’m in a unique position as a writer and coach: With a six- and one-and-a-half-year-old at home and a child clinical psychologist as a partner, I love sharing what has worked for me. I focus on the parents themselves. I love to help facilitate changes within the parents. That way, whatever changes they decide to implement, I know they’ll be more likely to stick with it.
Second, it’s that phrase that grates on me. “Your job.” It evokes the idea of work — Don’t get me wrong parenting is work. But “job” is a sore word. It’s incomplete.
No one’s job is parenting. No qualifications were checked. No interviews were conducted.
Your job is writer, teacher, or engineer.
You don’t ‘punch out’ at the end of your work shift to ‘punch in’ to another clock as father or mother. “I’m here, reporting for duty.” No, no. I’ve found that I’m still tethered to my kids when I’m at…
