Facing the awesome responsibility of parenthood is easier if leavened with humor, enlightenment, and many vacations.
Here are 10 mysteries of modern parenthood and some possible solutions:
1. Paying for childbirth - Assuming you have insurance, when the bills start pouring once you have the baby, unraveling the payment puzzle requires patience and persistence and possibly an economics degree.
Possible Solution: Don't be shy about availing yourself of the insurance company's appeal process and making many calls to resolve outstanding bills. Each state has some version of a health insurance commissioner, who can be a very helpful advocate. Many children are also eligible for free or low-cost insurance.
2. Baby sign language - Is this is the biggest con sold to modern parents of all time or does it really help parents communicate with their kids?
Possible Solution: Babble polled several experts on this topic and did your research for you. Or just submit to your cynicism and read this.
3. FMLA - Family Medical Leave Act. Mystery: Are we eligible? Are we not? Should I be grateful for 12 weeks of unpaid leave?
Possible Solution: Save up your sick and vacation time, ask your company to consider offering paid maternity leave, move to Canada, Support Momsrising.org.
4. Toy/Carseat/Baby Product Safety - Are we poisoning our children if we buy Dora or Diego toys, feed them formula in BPA laced bottles, or cover them in sunscreen?
Possible Solution: Z Recommends blog offers many extremely informative product safety guides addressing everything from sunscreens to bathtoys.
5. Breast vs. Formula - Most of us agree that breast is best, but how much better than formula is it really? And what if you are unable to breastfeed or choose not to?
Possible Solution: Do the best you can and stand behind it. Stay away from La Leche League if you choose to formula feed. Read: Formula Fed and Flexible Parenting and Madeline Holler's Babble feature about extended breastfeeding to appreciate different approaches.
6. Childcare - How to afford it. How to find high quality options. Nanny or center? Work or stay home?
Possible Solution: Most studies are concluding that some combination of work and family time makes most parents feel happiest. If your work lets you cut back your hours and you can afford it (without being Mommy or Daddy Tracked) this has been the best solution for my family.
7. Education - Single sex education? Homeschool? Public or private? Waldorf? Montessori?
Possible Solution: Doing what works is obviously best. There is no question that public school is cheapest, but has No child Left Behind Ruined it?
8. Coparenting - Myth or reality?
Possible Solution: This assumes there are (at least) two parents available and willing to raise the kids. While there are plenty of signs that parenting is more equal than it used to be, many still think there is much room for improvement.
9. Potty training - Is it necessary?
Possible Solution: Parents these days are much less stressed about getting their kids potty-trained by 6 months of age. For a great round-up of blogs discussing potty-training, go here.
10. When is it the right time to have a child? - Even though we're cynical narcissists who complain a lot, most of us would agree that "yes" nearly anytime is a great time to have a child.
