by Tricia Sayne

Created on: August 23, 2009

Once upon a time I longed to find the "Complete parenting guide." Everything else in life seems to have a manual, so why shouldn't child rearing?
I have since come to the realization that there is no perfect manual for raising a child. Every child is a unique being, and therefore, if we all read from the same pages we wouldn't have individuals. It is these little differences amongst us that make life interesting.

When my son was born, I tried reading every book I could get my hands on to prepare for every event imaginable. While I still believe it is better to be educated than to venture blindly into parenting, I now know that there are no set guidelines for children.

We must adjust to the individual and go with what our heart feels is right. Of course I do respect the advice of all who are willing to share their experiences. I take from it what I feel will work and modify accordingly.

Having been blessed with a child with a remarkably inquisitive mind, I do have to continually remind myself this is a blessing because there are days when he has asked so many questions that my brain just draws a blank. When I stop to think about it, that is exactly what I do as an adult: I question everything! This is the only way to gain a true understanding of a subject.

Perhaps it is because I am a younger mother, I think back to my own education. I am determined he will not have to face the same brick walls I faced. I can't count the amount of times my questions were answered with, "That's not what we're talking about right now," or even worse, "That's a silly question."

At the tender age of six, my son first posed the question, "What is sex?" I did not know what to tell him, so I acknowledged the question and told him I would get back to him the next day. I spoke to my peers and they all laughed and said that six is too young to learn such things. I spent the next 24 hours researching on the internet for a way to tackle the subject.

The majority of approaches I did not see as appropriate for a child of his age, and before I knew it, I had reached the deadline. Over breakfast the next morning he again asked, "What is sex?" I decided to take the scientific approach. I explained that sex was an important part of life, and without it, life would cease to be. I then took him out into the garden where I was growing corn and described how the male parts of the plant fertilize the female parts, and when this process is complete, we are rewarded with the "baby" corn.

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>