You're not that great

Yes parents, I'm talking to you. Of course, our parenting skills do have a lot to do with how our kids turn out, but not nearly as much as some parents like to think. There are some parents out there giving themselves huge pats on the back and looking down their noses at the rest of us simply because they were blessed with great kids. If you have a great kid, you would have to be a TERRIBLE parent to turn them into some sort of little monster so you can stop patting now.

A hot button issue to me is "babyproofing". Making sure a young child cannot get electrocuted by an exposed outlet is not a sign of weakness or poor parenting! Come on people. "But MY child knows better". Really? That is dangerous arrogance. Babies and toddlers, and preschoolers, and teens, are not little versions of adults. Not even close. They don't think like adults. They CAN'T think like adults. And as smart as your child is, he or she can still do something incredibly dangerous. Why? Not because you are a bad parent, but because the idea was too appealing to resist for reasons we may never understand.

New parents especially need to realize that protecting your children, going with your instincts, and playing it safe is one of the BEST parenting decisions you can make. After all, what do you have to lose? Or, that's right...your CHILD. How would you deal with the fact that your child got seriously hurt or worse because you were too prideful to cover an outlet, put a gate at the stairs, or lock up the kitchen cabinet containing the knives?