Letmumsbemumsanddadsbedads
CHERIE BLAIR said last week that instead of using the terms “mothering” and “fathering” when we talk about raising children, we should use the word “parenting”.
Sorry Cherie, but I think there’s a distinct difference between the two skills.
Yes, young dads today are more “hands on” than they used to be. That’s a welcome development.
But I think mothers and fathers bring different things to the relationship and there should be no problem in accepting that.
Parenting in its fullest sense means nurturing a child, helping him or her develop to their full capacity, providing for them financially and practically, being there when needed.
You don’t need to be one sex or another for that role.
I was raised from the age offivebymymother.
But not for one year of my life, even now, have I not missed my father and the relationship cut short when he died.
My mum did a great of parenting. But growing up I often wondered – what would my daddy have said as I went through school, got a job, cried over boyfriends?
I believe we should celebrate the shared skills of parenting – but let mothers be mothers and fathers be fathers.