To spank or not to spank?

It doesn't matter really.

There are so many debates in the parenting world that will never be settled.

Vaccinate or not?

TV or no TV?

Home school vs public school?

SAHM vs working outside the home mom?

What we should or shouldn't feed our children.

The list goes on and on. You know what? One side is not better than the other. Because I do things a certain way doesn't mean I am any better than you, and vice versa.

In the end don't we all, or at least most of us, just want our children to be happy and healthy? Don't we want them to become well-rounded, successful, respectful adults?

If we would all remember that we are all *mostly* working toward the same common goal, parenthood wouldn't have to be such a competition. Maybe people would be more willing to help others along the way.

I am blessed with people in my life that support and help me along this journey. They don't judge me on my parenting style (at least not so I know). They are willing to give me advice when asked or when they deem necessary. I hope these same people feel I am there to help them along as well.

Now, I say I am blessed in this way. However, I know there are far too many parents that don't have that same support. They feel like they are in this alone. Because of that so many feel unfit, they feel as though they are looked down upon by everyone. You know who suffers the most from this? The children.

Their children, and our children, need us to lift up these other parents. All children need to know that the adults in their lives are kind and loving people. But they will never know that if we don't show them with our actions. If our kids don't see us taking the time to help those that so desperately need us they don't have as good of a chance of becoming those well-rounded, respectful adults that we want them to be.

I am not naive enough to think that all parents want this for their children. There are some people that, to put it bluntly, should not be parents. We shouldn't take it out on those children. We should reach out to them and love them. They need to know that someone, somewhere, does care about them.

I know I am far from being a perfect parent, which none of us will ever be, but I strive to be the parent that my children need. That's not the same parent that your children need, or the neighbors' children need. It doesn't matter which side of all those timeless debates each of us is on, as long as we love and care for our children.

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I have about a trillion things I need to post about, hopefully I will get them done very very soon.