[blparent] Parenting classes

[Angie Matney]

Hi Bridgit,

While I agree that such information would be beneficial to all new
parents, I have to agree with Jo Elizabeth: If all new parents were
required to take (and, presumably, pass) parenting classes, people
with disabilities would suffer. We read on this list all the time
about the additional hurdles would-be adoptive parents face if they
happen to be disabled.

Because the state is choosing whether or not to place a child with
potentially adoptive parents, it has the right to require that they
take certain classes. The government is not involved in a couple's
decision to biologically have a child. If the government required
parenting classes, the issue of reproductive rights would come into
play. (And I think that enforcing such a requirement would be
logistically problematic, to say the least.)

My above comments have nothing to do with whether or not it would be a
good idea for all parents to be exposed to the infromation adoptive
parents receive in parenting classes; in fact, I think there would be
lots of advantages for all parents in access to such information. I
guess I like your idea in theory but can't advocate for it in
practice.

Best,

Angie



On 2/23/12, Bridgit Pollpeter <bpollpeter at hotmail.com> wrote:
> The only reason I think parenting classes should be required is because
> one, all adopting parents must go through numerous rounds of such
> classes to help them understand what parenting all entails, and to
> provide them with information that can be very helpful, and two, it
> makes sense that any new parent could benefit from parenting classes. I
> don't hold this opinion because I think people can't parent or need some
> "expert" telling them how to raise ones children; I simply mean some
> basic, foundational information is very beneficial for a new parent
> especially if younger. And there is a lot to parenting beyond the
> everyday tasks such as feeding, changing diapers or what constitutes a
> trip to the doctor. A lot of developmental methods can be beneficial for
> parent and child. My mom has been a teacher for 16 years, and she has
> taught me a lot about child development. I don't believe this whole
> thing nowadays about so-called experts allegedly having all the answers,
> but we can learn certain tools and methods then select what works best
> for us. Proper nutrition, discipline, physical and mental development-
> there is a lot that is helpful information to learn and use. What works
> for one family might not work for another, but it's good to have a
> wealth of information to draw upon. Knowing the psychological
> differences between infants, toddlers, older children and adolescents
> comes in handy. My 21-year-old sister doesn't understand why she can't
> reason and use adult logic with her two-year-old. It seems like common
> sense, but I know many people, of all ages, who struggle with this
> issue. Some simple information about toddler development and psychology
> could help some parents better deal with a toddler.
>
> And anyway, this is all hypothetical. My reasoning for suggesting such a
> thing is based solely on the thought that we all can benefit in some way
> from more information and education about children and parenting; it has
> nothing to do with the idea of people being incapable of parenting or
> not intelligent enough to figure things out. And having been through
> adoption meetings, I know the benefit of such information. And the
> reason this is done with adoptive parents is to be sure a child is
> placed in a loving environment that is safe; pardon my French, but any
> crack whore can take a baby home or any teen with barely an ounce of
> personal responsibility let alone a sense of responsibility for another
> (I speak from personal experience on both accounts) can have a baby and
> take it home; so why not just introduce required information and
> education in hopes we create the same environments adoption agencies
> strive for?
>
> Sincerely,
> Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
> Read my blog at:
> http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/
>
> "History is not what happened; history is what was written down."
> The Expected One- Kathleen McGowan
>
>
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