Parenting kids is only hard if you make it that way. Yes I know this will piss a whole lot of people off.

Yesterday on my way home, I was once again listening to my favorite afternoon radio show. They were talking about the newest scientific study results released from No Shit Sherlock University.

Apparently, one of the studies showed that the majority of parents, given the choice, would go back and opt not to have kids because being a parent and raising kids is just too damn hard.

Really?!?

They have people call in about this.  The first guy said “Raising kids is way harder than I expected because we have soccer practice, football practice, the games, dance lessons and recitals and we are on the go every night when I get home.”

Uh, ok, Dude, excuse me for a minute, but your idea of parenting is hard BECAUSE. YOU. MAKE. IT. HARD.  You schedule your kids for all of those extra curricular activities.  You agree that your kids can play soccer, baseball, football, dance class, girl scouts, and boy scouts. You are not parenting your kids at all.  You are chauffeuring and funding your kids, but not parenting them.

Do you realize that you are scheduling your kids recreation!?  Play dates, and soccer games, football practice, and dance class.  You have scheduled your child’s recreation.  Does anyone else see the irony in that bullshit?  Micromanage much?

I also take issue with the parents who buy their kids everything under the sun.  There isn’t an 8 year old in the world that needs their own laptop.  Until they reach junior high, the family computer should suffice.  At least on the family computer parents have control and know exactly what their child is doing.

Gaming systems? Keep them in the family room (not the kids bedrooms) so that you can monitor how long they are playing games.  And you can make sure homework is done first.

I don’t claim to have all the answers.  And I don’t think my parenting style is better.   My girls are allowed one extra curricular activity.  Tate chose cheerleading. During the week she has practice until 4:30.  Friday night is game night.  We eat dinner together every. single. night.  I go over their homework.  I know the girls’ best friend’s names and their parents too.

I know that what works for some, may not work for others.  I know there are probably parents out there who can make the jam-packed social schedule for their kids work.   I’m not one of them.  I believe that parenting your kids, means being present in their life.  Not on the sidelines watching.