Parents not always right, just wiser

I saw this comment on a teen pregnancy website: “Parents DON’T understand, because they’re ‘always right’.” In one sentence, this explains the theory behind my Single Parent Wisdom book series. So often, parents have the experience to share, but children, especially teens, don’t want to hear about it. Watching young people become parents for the first time without the comfort of a family for support, I realized our culture is missing the wisdom available to them.

A child doesn’t understand his parents had a life before he was born. He stops listening to his parents pretty much after the “Hot stove” command. That was valuable, but “Don’t cross the street” raises questions. Why can’t I?

Interviewing other single parents who have already raised their children provides the basis of the SP Wisdom book series. The first book, 25 Ways to Encourage Good Behavior, starts right out with easy steps towards better behavior. The second book, Parents! Take Care of Yourself, gives pointers on avoiding burn-out and depression by finding time to satisfy your own needs.

It is not that parents are “always right,” it is their bad experiences they hope you will avoid. Parents want to steer you towards enjoying the good experiences that await you.