Parenting with the Pros

Today's blogpost is a conversation on parenting with resident expert, Missy Daniel. Who could be more qualified to give parenting advice than my mom? She has a 67% success rate with raising kids. And like my dad would always say when we got home from church and realized we left Colby AGAIN...2 out of 3 ain't bad.

What made you want to be a parent?

M: "I just always grew up wanting to have kids. I think I had a good childhood so I wanted to give that to my kids."

And what made you decide that Dad was the one to have kids with?

M: "He scored higher on the SAT than I did. Well he says he did. I've never seen the paper."

Do you have any regrets about becoming a parent? Because you like to talk about rewatching all the shows you missed when we were little.

M: "No because now we're at the point where my children help me with technology and remembering passwords."

I'm pretty sure Dad's passwords are always Colby.

M: "No, he thinks more of himself than of Colby."

What makes me your favorite child?

M: "I get to go shopping with you. And you're funny too, we usually laugh at the same jokes."

Well yes, because I make those jokes. And they're hilarious. What do you like about Patrick? Anything?

M: "I like when we talk about the Bible and history. I like that he will stay up late and talk to me."

So me and Colby are your heathen children?

M: "No, but y'all talk more about pop culture."

Was there anything your parents did that you wanted to do differently?

M: "Yeah, my parents didn't get a lot of time off work to go on vacations. So I wanted to be able to go to the beach for a week with y'all."

Is it too late to mention that Grandma is going to read this?

M: "Edit that then. I basically raised y'all the same way that my parents raised me. I think they did a good job. At least with me, I don't know what happened to Dana."

Looking back, is there anything you wish you had done differently?

M: "I should have made y'all apologize and hug and kiss each other."

Ew, why?

M: "So y'all would love each other more."

I think we love each other. But why were you so big on alone time for us when we were little? Or was that just for me because you needed a break?

M: "That was so you would learn to be independent and creative enough to occupy yourselves and not be bored if you didn't have someone telling you what to do. Why would you not want to be yourself?"

You're such a loser. Did leaving us alone ever backfire?

M: "Yes, when you decided to do your own hair with gel but you used Vicks VapoRub and started crying when it heated up."

Did you pay more attention to me after that?

M: "No, I just moved the VapoRub."

What 3 pieces of advice would you give parents today?

M: "Kids need to hear 'no' - kids need to not sleep in their parents' beds - and they need to have some choices but not all choices. They need to learn how to make decisions but within reason."

Well. There you have it folks. You're welcome.