Somebody Said

Being a parent is an amazing blessing. Both the beauty and bounty of a full house can be scary at times, but so rewarding in the end. With that in mind I wrote down some of the things that I heard over the years as a pastor from parents, both good and bad, about raising children. It always seemed that somebody had an answer for a question that new parents would ask or volunteered advice even before they were asked. Maybe you've met one of these somebodys-you know the people that mean well but really have no idea what they're talking about when it comes to kids.

I appreciate good advice from anyone that shows concern enough to give it, but honestly some of the things that I heard spoken to new parents or parents of small children were laughable. I don't care how successful they are or how old they are, you will always be a parent until your dying day. So laugh and learn at what somebody said.

-Somebody said it takes about six weeks to get back to normal after you've had a baby. Somebody doesn't know that once you're a parent normal is history.

-Somebody said you learn how to be a parent by instinct. Somebody never took a three-year-old shopping.

-Somebody said being a parent is boring. Somebody never rode in a car driven by a teenager with a driver's permit.

-Somebody said if you're a "good" parent your child will "turn out well." Somebody thinks a child comes with directions and a guarantee.

-Somebody said "good" parents never raise their voices. Somebody never came out the back door just in time to see his or her child hit a golf ball through the neighbor's kitchen window.

-Somebody said you don't need an education to be a parent. Somebody never helped a fourth grader with his math.

-Somebody said you can't love the fifth child as much as you love the first. Somebody doesn't have five children.

-Somebody said a parent can find all the answers to child-rearing questions in books. Somebody never had a child stuff beans up his nose.

-Somebody said a parent can stop worrying after his or her child gets married. Somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son or daughter-in-law to their heartstrings.

-Somebody said your parents know you love them so you don't need to tell them. Somebody isn't a parent.

-Somebody said a parent's job is done when the last child leaves home. Somebody never had grandchildren.