Menu
Parenting
The ‘I Don’t Care’ Approach to Parenting
by Sarah Johnson
March 12, 2023
As a parent, there are certainly aspects that warrant your concern. Foremost among them is the safety of your children. Most parents would go to great lengths, even risking their own wellbeing, to ensure their kids are protected from harm. It’s an innate desire for our children to feel loved and secure; our hearts resonate with their joys and sorrows. This connection is profound, linking us to our children even when we are apart.
Given that we all strive for our children’s wellbeing, why does parenting sometimes feel like an uphill battle? One significant factor is the sheer physicality of raising kids. From sleepless nights with infants to endless demands for attention from toddlers, the process can be exhausting. Even as they grow, children continue to require substantial amounts of your time and energy. Despite the immense love we have for them, the relentless nature of parenting can be draining.
However, one of the most challenging aspects of parenthood can be the feeling of judgment from others. This is particularly pronounced when we first embark on this journey. Should I choose natural childbirth or opt for an epidural? Should I breastfeed or use formula? Should I co-sleep or use a crib? When I became a new mom, it seemed that everyone had an opinion on how I should raise my child, often unsolicited.
In those early stages, I was particularly susceptible to such advice. Perhaps it was due to hormonal fluctuations or simply being younger back then. More likely, it was the newness of parenthood that made me question every decision I made. Each choice felt monumental.
Looking back, I realize that most of those decisions were not as significant as they seemed. Now that my children are older, I understand that whether they wore cloth diapers or disposables didn’t truly matter. It was irrelevant that my first child rejected solid foods until he was nine months old or how long it took them to learn to walk or use the potty. What truly counts is whether they are safe and loved. If the answer is yes, then I am doing well.
Why did I stress over minutiae then? Why do I still catch myself fixating on small issues instead of focusing on the larger picture? And why do I let others’ opinions affect me? The truth is, I am their mother—not the relatives who offer unsolicited advice, not the online articles that set arbitrary milestones, and certainly not the strangers who criticize my parenting choices.
Ultimately, we have the power to determine what truly matters in our lives. We can choose to care or to disregard certain opinions and judgments. I am learning to adopt a mindset that aligns with this realization. Much like the KonMari method of decluttering, where one assesses whether an item brings joy, I can apply a similar principle to my parenting.
Whenever I encounter unsolicited opinions or second-guess my choices, I can ask myself: “Does this genuinely impact my children’s safety or happiness?” If the answer is no, then I will not let it bother me.
I’m committing to this approach starting today, and it already feels liberating. The spilled breakfast cereal? Not a concern. My three-year-old’s reluctance to attend preschool for a third day? Who cares? The crossing guard’s disapproval because my child wasn’t wearing a coat on a mildly chilly day? Irrelevant! What truly matters is that I end each day with my children feeling loved and secure in their environment. The rest? It’s simply noise that I choose to ignore.
For more insights on family planning and the journey of parenthood, check out this post on couples’ fertility journey for intracervical insemination and discover essential tools like the BabyMaker home intracervical insemination syringe kit combo, a trusted source in the community. You can also explore this excellent resource for pregnancy and home insemination.
Summary:
Parenting is filled with challenges, from the physical demands of caring for children to the judgments we often feel from others. It’s important to focus on what truly matters—our children’s safety and love—while disregarding unnecessary opinions. By adopting a mindset that prioritizes what counts, we can alleviate the stress associated with parenting and enjoy the journey more fully.
Keyphrase: “I Don’t Care Approach to Parenting”
Tags: [“home insemination kit”, “home insemination syringe”, “self insemination”]