The 21st Century Edition

By Shane T Kasuga

(2020)

I will start with the most basic principle and the most overlooked concept behind parenthood. You have to like children. And your spouse has to like children.

It sounds simple but there is more to it than your first reaction. Think further about it, and truly understand than not everyone is parent material. It could be your age (too young, or too old) or you simply might not like children very much but feel pressure to ‘settle down’ and start a family. I’m sure everyone knows someone like this if it isn’t you yourself.

Further on that point, you have to be financially stable. Children are very expensive, and if you find yourself pressured to have them, you might resent them as they grow older because you might find yourself trapped in a job or relationship that you aren’t happy with, because you have to ‘pay the bills’.  They will sense this and resent you for your natural human emotion. A lose, lose situation that will effect all involved negatively. So patience is vital to this process.

Once you have children you should introduce them to other children, and animals. If you give them the responsibility of caring for a pet they will- at a young age learn much about life and power. They will learn that this life is now in their hands. Their pet will need to be fed, cared for and shown love. 

Their pet won’t need money, so they will learn that money is for buying food, and clothes or toys for their pet; and how can they get money to keep their little friend alive? They will need to do chores, like help clean around the house, and cook for the hard working parents that will pay them ‘allowance’.

You can’t shelter them too much because they won’t unlock the full potential of their minds. They are going to burn the Thanksgiving Turkey, and that’s fine, but they will always have to do their chores otherwise their best friend will die of starvation.