WHY IT’S OK NOT TO BE A PERFECT PARENT
TORQUAY mother of two Shannon Kelly White wants parents to channel John Farnham and “take the pressure down”.
Her new self-published book, Parenting for Legends, urges mums and dads to surrender to survival mode, be lazy where possible, accept help and be kind to themselves.
The mother of Jack, 5, and Herbie, 2, doesn’t remember her own parents being as uptight as many parents today.
“Back in the ’80s they were too busy getting their hair permed and inflicting passive smoking on us to be bothered with trivial things like our safety and wellbeing,” she wrote.
“These days it feels like parenting is a competitive sport, with everyone trying to outdo each other, trying to be ‘the perfect parent’. Well, bugger that.
“Kids don’t need us to be perfect, they just need us to be kind and loving.”
The former nurse, 35, who lives in Torquay with her husband Brett, a computer game designer, says her skills include wearing Reebok pumps, eating cookies and making zoos out of Duplo.
Your child’s daycare resembles a Russian orphanage but you’re too tired to find another one.
You lose your kid’s library books and blame Grandma.
You’d rather fake your own death than allow your two-year-old to get one of those mini trolleys at the supermarket.
You love your kids more than anything but you also shout, “Praise be!” every time bedtime rolls around. Source: