Well, Del, I'm hoping my parenting life is as easy as you make out.. I'll let you know how its going and you can give me some tips along the way... See you at 2am in the morning from June onwards!
It seems like you see everything in black or white. No shades of yellow there - why is that?
I'd personally say though, that living with your sister and her daughter for 2 years, does not a parent you make.
There has been things that my sister has done in her parenting life - she has 3 girls (14,10 & - which I think is ridiculous or bad or not *really* in their best interests, and there has been times I have said as much to her. Or when I have reprimanded the kids without asking her permission beforehand. However, most of the time I keep my mouth buttoned because at the end of the day I'm not yet a parent and not in her situation.
Ah, so you're saying that people out there with 2 year olds are not parents?
That's what you're saying, right?
Two years I lived with my sister and did the bulk of the childcare mean nothing?
So two years doesn't count, right?
OK, tell that to all the people out there who have recently adopted, fostered or have two year old children.
HEY YOU OUT THERE, KELDA AND MILO SAY YOU'RE NOT "REAL" PARENTS.
True, right?
If your answer is yes, then I'll buy your statement and we can spread the word that REAL parents have a probationary period that they have to pass before being 'accepted' as a 'real' parent. What is it, 3 years? 10? 35? What do you suggest?
If you answer no, then I was a parent. For only two years, but I was. My niece certainly thought I was because within a few weeks, SHE was calling me 'mom'.
And I guess what she thought is what really counts.
As for child care, who knows, maybe I was a natural and I just didn't get to practice much. Some people are better at adapting than others. My niece was hyperactive. She wasn't by any means a nice, quiet child. So she was difficult, comparatively speaking, yet I had no problems with her.
ETA: I know you didn't mean it that way
Kelda, but it is extremely offensive to suggest that there is some sort of probationary period before someone is considered a 'true' parent. Like our definition of families has expanded greatly, so must our definition of parents. It's not a sacred cow and there is no one real way to be a parent.