A license to parent?? Why Not!?!

Sometime late in my middle school years, I remember a class debate that people should need a license before becoming parents. You have to have education and pass tests for tons of other life saving activities and occupations.  I may be over generalizing here, but I think most everyone, would say raising a child is the most important job out there. So why not?? Why isn't it a LAW to have a "parenting license"?  School's a law. Why isn't early childhood education a law that parents must attend?  The brain does so much growth in those first years that impact the rest of your life.

You get pregnant so now you take a couple classes.... or they take your baby from you.   Ok... that's extreme and not going to happen! (I would surely hope it wouldn't...)   But think, why couldn't classes be a law?   The route we are going they could be... like the "strongly" suggested law like "you must have health insurance or we'll fine you".  How about, "you must take early childhood education classes or you don't get child deductions?"   So why not??  Write your congress members  or share this blog with them.  Kind of serious and kind of kidding... I don't really know my whole feelings on my ramblings yet so I haven't actually wrote Amy and Al myself but feel free to if you want!

Now back to my middle school theorizing brain... The debate got really controversial about how else you could regulate "parenting licenses."   Come on, it totally isn't breaking people's rights to force them to be on birth control until they are married (or in a committed relationship if you are the non-marrying type), make a household income of $75,000 (what studies show is the amount of money that can "buy" happiness), and pass a year long course on becoming parents before they take away your monthly required shots?  Really, wouldn't these shots be cheaper and better than welfare, intervention programs in schools, mental/behavioral health, foster programs, divorce rate increases (oh ya... a year long course before you get married is a great idea too), neglect/abuse cases, etc. etc. etc....   Yes, again, maybe you think I cross the line here in saying it is laissez faire, unprepared, hands off, or overworking parents who contribute to these necessities of our society, but in my opinion it is a part of the problem.  Some other studies really smart people do say parental training would help.  

Of course, a required birth control shot will never happen (again, nor do I think it should.)  But it could make another good novel with that idea.. I don't write those, just this little blog maybe you are reading. If you are the novel writing type, you can take that premise and send me a signed copy of your book... (and a couple thousand for Declan's college fund if you make more than $100,000 off it!)

But anyhow, hopefully you haven't stopped reading this blog because then I didn't get to tell you my main purpose for writing this blog:  To read the one book I think should be on the year long course's syllabus.  This book:

My book summary will be coming soon if you really can't read it. But you could.  I really want you to read it.  You could find 10ish hours over the next few months to read a book instead of watching tv or surfing the web that will help you understand your children's brains.   You want to help your kid be as Smart and as Happy as the genetic cards have tossed them, right?    For now, go to Amazon or my Fed Up blog for mini-summaries on it.   I will still blog about it this summer when school is out for my own review but I will not be able to do the book justice and explain all the research studies John Medina does.  I'm truly not trying to sound self-righteous in this paragraph as my first proofreader commented to me... just persuasive.  As a new parent and as a teacher I just want the best for our future generation.  

Maybe the teacher side in me will write a test on it and send you a license to parent.  Ha ha!... I don't work in July & August ;)    (Though I believe we should, even though I don't want to...  but that's another topic...) Jokes aside, a message I did take out of the conclusion of the book is we won't do it perfect even half the time and we shouldn't all do it the exact same, but we can take research proven strategies that smart brain scientists say work and always try harder!