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Parents And Politics: Delaware’s New “Spanking Ban”

October 2, 2012 at 9:14 pm , by 

22 months.

Is the state of Delaware really banning spanking? Not exactly, but in theory, sort of.

Governor Jack Markell, a Democrat, passed Bill 234 last month, which contains an ambiguous phrase that I have conveniently copied and pasted for your convenience:

(j) “Physical injury” to a child shall mean any impairment of physical condition or

pain.

That’s why Bill 234 is controversial.

Because let’s face it: Spanking causes pain. That’s basically the whole point.

So it’s possible this bill could be interpreted that a parent could be breaking the law by causing pain to their child, via spanking.

Ouch.

How should we feel about that?

Immediately thoughts of “Oh no, now Big Brother is going to try to keep me from disciplining my own child!” come to mind.

The lines begin to blur regarding discipline and child abuse. What if other states adopt a similar bill?

When I hear a story like this, I remind myself what the root of it is. It’s not about whether or not spanking is wrong or right.

It’s about giving the government control over personal issues like this.

The question isn’t about spanking. The question is whether or not you support a “hands off” approach to government or a “decide what it is right for us, government” approach, instead.

Personally, I don’t believe in spanking. I raise my son with a strict, consistent method based on time-outs and taking away privileges, followed by clear communication with him explaining A) why his behavior merited the discipline and B) that I love him, then I hug him.

However, I support a parent’s right to spank their child. Because after all, who am I to stay that my method is better than spanking?

That’s not my call. Nor is it the government’s.

(Can you tell I’m a Libertarian?)

So as we approach this important Presidential election next month on November 6th, keep this mind:

You are voting for a political party and their ideologies, more so than a particular man.

Will you vote for a political party that lets the government decide how you discipline your own child, as well as,how many ounces of soda you can buy for your child when in New York City?

Or are you okay with making those decisions yourself?

 

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Attempting To Vote For The “Better Christian” For President In 2012

September 1, 2012 at 12:09 am , by 

21 months.

If you’re friends with me on Facebook, then you know that A) I talk about my son a lot and B) I love discussing politics.

This election is epic! Here we are, deciding which man we believe best represents our own code of morality and decision-making.

For me, the most interesting part is regarding the discussions I’m hearing about the religious beliefs of the candidates, particularly from conservative Protestant Republicans.

Up until 3 years ago, before becoming your neighborhood friendly Ron Paul supporter, I was a Republican and I voted that way every four years.

Like many other conservative Protestants I knew, I voted for the Republican candidate, if for no other reason, because he was pro-life.

While I am still very pro-life, my focus is no longer on choosing the “better Christian,” or in other words, the most conservative Christian candidate.

Here’s the irony: Many Protestants don’t consider Mormons to be Christians; some of the biggest reasons being because Christians believe that Jesus is equal to God and that Jesus was physically raised from the dead. (My understanding is that Mormons don’t believe those things.)

In other words, certain Republican Protestants are voting for the “better Christian,” though, by their own definition of what it means to be a Christian, the man they will be voting for is not actually a Christian.

Instead, they’re voting for the man who best represents their particular Christian values.

This is the first election in a long time where Republicans don’t have a Protestant Presidential candidate to stand behind.

(The only Catholic President in American history was JFK, who he was a Democrat.)

What if Mitt Romney was a conservative, pro-life agnostic instead of a Mormon?

How “non-Christian” can a Republican Presidential candidate be and still be backed by the conservative Protestants as the “better Christian” candidate?

Of course, I keep having to put “better Christian” in quotation marks just to be clear that I personally I am not publicly judging their allegiance to Christ; I think if I did, it wouldn’t be very Christian of me.

Similarly, I think it’s unfair to demonize a President just because he’s with the “wrong” political party.

President Obama is not evil. Nor was George W. Bush. They just happened to be the first two Presidents we’ve had since the Internet has been relevant to mainstream America and since blogs have been subconsciously influential to the masses; so these recent Presidents have been much more rapidly criticized.

It can be so natural to call their actions evil when you’re part of the opposing political party. In the process, the whole other political party in that case becomes evil too.

In other words, either half of America is evil; it just depends on which side of the fence you’re not.

Like I said in the beginning, we as a nation, as parents of children whom we are trying to instill our own morals into, are trying to vote for the man we believe best represents our own code of morality and decision-making.

Sure, our own personal religious beliefs should play into that. But at least for conservative Protestant Republicans, it’s not as simple this time around as choosing the “better Christian.”

So, will America choose a Christian or a Mormon for President in 2012?

 

Top images: US Republican and Democrat, via Shutterstock.

Bottom image: Two voodoo dolls, via Shutterstock.

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The Winner Of HP’s “Tech-Over” Giveaway For Mother’s Day

May 10, 2012 at 10:41 pm , by 

17 months.

A month ago I revealed thatHP would be giving one lucky mom a full “tech-over” for Mother’s Day. I invited everyone to submit a mom for the contest, telling why she should win this glorious prize package.

Today, I shall announce the lucky mom out there who will definitely have an awesome Mother’s Day gift. Drum roll please.

And the winner is…

My wife. I, I mean, she really needs a new computer and she’s such a good sport about me writing about her all the time…

Angry yet? You shouldn’t be. You should know me well enough by now I’m just joking. Gotcha! (I hope.)

Seriously, here’s the actual winning entry:

Hi Nick & Parents.com,
I am not sure if voting oneself to win is acceptable, but I truly have to give myself credit as being a super MOM! I have two beautiful daughters that I have raised, one is 8 yrs. and the other is 7 yrs., on my own. I have been known to have  three jobs and attend college full time, and wonder when i would get to just spend a relaxing afternoon with my daughters. But now I have a debilitating head condition that has caused me to not be able to hold down not even one full time job. I truly believe if I were lucky enough to win HP’s ” Tech-Over”, I would still be able to spend the much needed quality time with my daughters. To be able to expand their knowledge in today’s ever-so growing Internet world would make my dreams come true!
Sincerely, Laura Kendrick

Here’s the thing that stood out most about Laura’s entry. In the very first line, she credited her self as a “Supermom,” not to mention that she submitted herself for the contest.
Why is that so cool?

Two months ago here on The Dadabase, I wrote a post entitled “Can We Just Nix This Idea Of The Perfect ‘Supermom’ Already?”

Here’s an essential excerpt  from it:

“You are Supermom; the real-life version of her. The main difference I see is that the fictional version never complains. But is that a good thing? To never complain? Nope. It’s absolutely necessary to communicate your frustrations as a parent.”

Instead of Laura focusing on what she’s not, she focuses on what she is. I love that. I celebrate her confidence and determination.

Congratulations Laura and Happy Mother’s Day!

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Dining Out With My 16 Month-Old At The Pfunky Griddle

March 31, 2012 at 7:09 am , by 

16 months.

When my son Jack was 9 months old, I wrote about how I was over eating out at restaurants. It just wasn’t enjoyable or relaxing in anyway. Seven months later, things have fortunately gotten easier for my wife and I to the point we actually want to take him out to eat.

My wife told me about this trendy place in Nashville, just 8 miles from our house, called The Pfunky Griddle where you make your own breakfast right there at the table.

Understandably, I was silently skeptical; not just for the thought of having to cook my own meal but also imagining Jack sticking his hands on the hot cooking surface.

But, you know, it works… enough so that we actually have gone to breakfast there for the past three Saturdays!

For one thing, Jack is now able to sit in a booster seat as long as he’s entertained. The sights, sounds, and smells of cooking your own pancakes (or French Toast, as I always choose) is definitely fascinating to him.

Secondly, he gets his own spatula to slap against the tile table in front of him, allowing him to believe he’s actually cooking like my wife and I are doing.

Thirdly, they always seat us in the sun room where Jack can hear the birds singing in the morning; not to mention, if he does get antsy, I can easily run him outside for some fresh air.

My wife and I are confident in the food because they provide whole wheat batter and bread (or gluten free if you request). Plus, they make really good coffee. Their dirty chai is nearly $2 cheaper than Starbucks’ version.

And at about $6 per person for all you can eat, it’s hard to complain about the prices.

Taking Jack to the Pfunky Griddle has become our new Saturday morning tradition. But we have to get there early, by 8:30, because after all, it is a trendy place.

In fact, so trendy, that back in October 2008, Parents magazine featured it in an article called “8 Reasons To Visit Nashville,” which The Pfunky Griddle has framed and featured on the wall as soon as you walk in.

The next time you’re in Nashville, you’ll probably see us there. Bring your toddler and see if he or she enjoys it as much as Jack!

 

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Big Love? Man Donates Sperm For His Son’s Baby

March 27, 2012 at 11:41 pm , by 

16 months.

Today on MSN’s home page there was a strange headline proclaiming “Buzz About Father Donating Sperm For Son’s Baby.” I couldn’t resist. I had to read it.

As the article explains, a man in The Netherlands stepped up to the plate for his son who is biologically incapable of having a child with his wife.

So the baby’s biological father will actually be his legal grandfather. Accordingly, the baby’s legal father will be his biological half-brother.

This is not illegal. Though it is pretty weird.  I think for most people, the word “creepy” comes to mind.

But again, it’s not against the law. Should it be? Are there any particular moral issues involved here?

I think it’s safe to say that there are some psychological time bombs regarding this family’s dynamics. But does this case break a moral code, or does it just go against what is considered normal and acceptable in our society?

It’s not like the the father and daughter-in-law became sexually involved in order to have a child in the son’s place. But by the father donating his sperm, the ultimate outcome is still produced when the baby is born.

Imagine knowing that your own child is half of your spouse and half of one of your parents.

I feel like this is the strange twist ending of some psychological thriller movie.

Actually, this situation is very similar a story line in HBO’s drama series, Big Love. Nicki Grant’s ex-husband marries her mom in an attempt to have a biological child with her; having already fathered a child with Nicki.

When that plot revealed itself I remember thinking, “Okay, that’s an interesting story, but it’s simply unbelievable.”

Well, now that I’ve read this story, I’m less disappointed by the previously unbelievable story line on Big Love.

Right now I have the song “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh (A Letter from Camp)” stuck in my head, only the words are “Hello Grandpa, hello Father…”.

So here’s what I want to know: Is there anyone out there willing to defend this dad who donated sperm for his son?

Anybody?