Welcome to Questionable Parenting

Welcome to my new blog Questionable Parenting! 

Im using this blog to bring up questions and challenge assumptions that arise in my own parenting circles, a lot of which is related to Christianity and/or the parenting practices and beliefs that often “pass” as Christian. 

I’m a young mom and definitely don’t have the answers, (and I’m sure many would find my parenting method and stories “questionable”) but I hope that by bringing up the questions that some have been unable or unwilling to ask, we as parents will become less naive around the biases that shape our behavior and more discerning and loving to the tiny humans in our care. 

If you decide to engage with this blog, please feel free to challenge my perspective. We all do better when asked good questions.  

So let’s get to the questions!



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Did Christian parents invent a new religion to protect cultural norms?

 “Motherhood is the highest calling of a woman.”  “Parents are supposed to be the king and queen ruling over the household.”  “Parenthood is a battlefield.”  “The stress of parenting is meant to point you to how much you need Jesus.”  “Having as many kids as possible proves that you are trusting Jesus.”  Have you heard any of these before?  These are not to spread condemnation, but I wonder if we as culture had to invent new rules to a new religion to protect the cultural value that permeates every aspect of American life: rugged individualism.  Devoid of extended family, friends, neighbors, church, or society, moms and dads have no one else to rely on but each other. The only way this fantasy was going to work was if dad made the money while mom took on all the household responsibilities, and the childcare, and all family relationships, and everything else, alone.  Christian parents don’t believe that it takes a village to raise a child—it o...
Read more

Do Christians really believe that “love your enemies” justifies domestic abuse?

  Reflecting on “Love Your Enemies” When I was sitting in church today, I was reading over a passage mentioned by the pastor, the famous “love your enemies” passage. This passage is included in Matthew 5-7 in Jesus’s sermon on the mount. Although the pastor only referenced this phrase, I reread the section that describes the kind of love that Jesus expects from his disciples: “38 You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also; 40 if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well; 41 and if someone forces you to go one mile go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. 43 You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor'6-it and ‘Hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,s 45 that you may be...
Read more

Is writing this blog really the best use of my time?

It’s 11:45pm and we just got back from a family trip. Both kids are asleep and I’m pretty tired. I need to get to bed I think so I can be rested to take care of the kids tomorrow.  If I’m not going to sleep, I should at least be doing something useful and holy, like cleaning the kitchen, right? Except here’s the thing: I don’t want to go to sleep, and I don’t want to clean. I want to write. Is that really the best use of my time?  Sleep is important. Taking care of kids is important. Cleaning is important(ish). Processing my thoughts and reflecting on my life often feels like a distant luxury rather than a necessity. There are so many things that feel more pressing in order to be a “good wife” or a “good mom.” I didn’t reflect on my day, decisions, motivations, or behavior, but I got the dishes done and the living room cleaned. I didn’t fail at motherhood today!  Why is motherhood associated with a flurry of activity to the exclusion of reflection and self-understanding?...
Read more