About 4-5 years ago everyone I knew was getting engaged, furiously planning their wedding and honeymoons. We are now moving on to that next stage of parenthood and I feel like everyone around me (friends, co-workers, family members) are having babies – so exciting!
The other day I was having lunch with my friend Missy who leads our Young Married Sunday School class with her husband, Seth. Through our converation we laughed and also seriously discussed several things about motherhood that we had not quite anticipated. One of them being how controversial some parenting and mothering topics are. Sure, you expect some differing opinions, but oh boy, people are passionate (including myself on a few choice topics!) I figure this stems from everyone having a different approach to how they raise their child(ren) and the (obvious) passion and desire everyone has to do a good job with such an enormous task. I mean, come on, who wants a wack kid?
So, here are some of the more controversial parenting topics that I have encountered and some links to a few things on the topics that I have seen. The link is not necessarily how I feel about the topic, although the one to my blog is 
- Child birth - Should you be enduced at any point, or should you wait to go in to labor on your own, despite how far past your due date you go? Deliver at home, in a free-standing child birth center, at home? Epidural or natural birth? C-Section? Phew – loaded!
- Breast-feeding or bottle feed formula?
- What type of immunization schedule? Do you immunize at all?
- What type of schooling? Do you send your kid to preschool, or not and relish all of their pre-schooling years at home?
- Do both parents work outside of the home? This is not so much controversial, as I would say an interesting topic within Christ-following women circles.
There are surely more than this, but these are the ones that came up in conversation the other day. What else have you encountered as a parent that was a little more controversial than you bargened for?
No. I’d say this is a pretty accurate list. And I was actually laughing to myself about a couple of these, as I’ve had some heated discussions with fellow mothers regarding some of them (breast versus bottle and working moms).
As we are now entering the preschool phase with Jack I’d say that fast food/healthy eating is a ‘controversial’ subject for some. I had a conversation with a young mother (who has an infant) who stated her child would never eat McDonalds. We frequent the place…simply for the playplace. After the conversation, I felt completely judged…but you know, as a parent you do what you gotta do…and if my son needs an outlet on a rainy day and chicken nuggets and the playplace are going to help me through the morning…I’m okay with it.
Also, another one would be naps/scheduling/and letting your infant ‘cry it out’.
By: Lynsi on April 3, 2009
at 10:15 pm
I agree, this is a great list. Another topic I would add to this list is Discipline. Do you discipline? How? What methods? How often? etc.
Like Lynsi, I have also had some good conversations about most of these issues. I have learned that although I may feel very passionately about my personal decision regarding these topics, my way is not the only way. Loving your kids and pointing them toward Christ is what is most important, I think. Other than that, I think it is ok for all of us to have different opinions.
And Chick Fil A has certainly saved my sanity on a more than one occasion.
By: Miriam on April 7, 2009
at 10:53 am