Best Mother in the Universe

Levi was chatting with his mate Ty the other day and they were sitting in the sandpit. Ty said to Levi;

"Is your mother really the best mother in the universe?"

Levi's answer (We think! Ty's Dad was laughing so hard he thinks that he may have missed it);

"No"

When Levi doesn't say Thanks or one of the other myriad of small things that he should do but they aren't bad enough for a real correction, Levi gets; "Thanks Mum, Best Mother in the Universe". Mostly that is enough for him to say Thanks or whatever else he was supposed to have said. I think Ty's Dad was being nice. I'm sure that Levi said No. For a start he gets sarcasm, but on top of that the last thing that I would want to be is the 'Best Mother in the Universe'. That would be really scary.

The Mother brigade can be really scary. The people using disposable nappies don't like the ones who use cloth and both are irreversibly right. Those who immunize on time are derided by those who think that immunizations are the root of all evil. Then if one of the poor kids get diagnosed with something life altering and dream shattering like autism, it is then somehow the mother's fault for agreeing to immunize. The fight is the same over circumcision, organic foods, prolonged breast feeding. You all know it, and other mothers can be just so cruel to each other. I find it such a pity. There are so many reasons why we should support each other, but for some reason we are all fighting to be the "Best Mother in the Universe".

My mother hates the way that I bring up my little boy. You always do something wrong for the generation on either side. I'm sure that Levi will look back on his childhood and wish for something different. Maybe that is why there are so many parenting books. Maybe we are searching for the right way to parent. The way that will be perfect. I'm afraid however that the methods of parenting are as varied as the children we care for. I can only do what I can do. I can only parent how I see fit and protect him from those who see life in a negative way. The rest I can leave to his psychiatrist in the future.

So, I am going to let him sleep in my bed as long as he wants

And I am going to make him say Thank you and Please

And I am going to love that boy...................forever!