His dad, whose longer stride had taken him several steps ahead of his son, looked back and saw his child sitting in the store aisle. The glow of success quickly faded from the small face. The puzzled child got up and walked slowly to his father - a father who didn't even see his opportunity to show love, encouragement and pride in his small son. We Americans love our children. Certainly, we do.
Parents provide their infants with designer diapers, designer bottles, designer pacifiers.
Generally, most parents see that their babies get the rest, attention and cuddling they need. Parents sacrifice sleep and curtail many of the things they like to do in an effort to put their babies first. But when their cute toddlers begin to walk, to talk and assert independence that's part of the natural need to grow, parents often fall into a parenting style that their children, for better or worse, will live with for the next 16 years or so. It's a job parents should be willing to take on for 18 to 20 years. When parents have other things that get in their way and make it difficult for them to stay on the job for the full amount of time that's required, children really pay for that.