You'll hate me for saying this but those little stick figure stickers of happy families that usually appear on the tanks that pervade the roads get to me sometimes.
The stick figures are the next milestone parents graduate to from that "Baby on Board" sticker.
It's like they are warning everyone else on the road of their precious cargo like it's someone else's responsibility to take care of their kids.
What about the people they might maim or murder while they're reaching round to hold the crying child's hand with one hand on the wheel and their mind only half focused on the road?
What about they stick to the road rules instead of pretending that sticker (and their 4WD or SUV if you prefer) gives them right of way?
Recently I had a conversation with a pregnant woman about the gnarly issue bundling babies into childcare at three months so mothers - who don't want to be at home with the baby because they would go "out of their minds" - can return to "work". Of course there are some mothers who really do have to bring in a second income to pay the bills.
I was quite frank because she seemed like an intelligent person capable of accepting a different point of view. But this was a mistake on my part.
This is not a conversation to have with any pregnant woman. The right conversation is one in support of paid parental leave - ra! RA! ra!
I'm afraid all I did was make a bad impression by expressing my true point of view. Really stupid thing to do.
Afterall, she was one of the women who was going to return to work three months after having the baby.
But her husband has six months parental leave so it's not the same thing as sticking the infant in child care.
I expressed another belief that we don't hear about the detrimental effects - basically it's a coverup - because women in the media (quite a powerful group when you think about it) don't want to hear about it.
You all may disagree but I think it's akin to taking your eyes off the road.
Rearing a family is important work - I don't think you can do your best if your attention is divided between the road and the family or work and the family.
Yes many families need two incomes but then I've noticed also that many parents seem to equate their needs with their children's needs.
Computations are variable depending on variables:
Does the child's makeup predispose it to a greater need for security?
How much stress or anxiety can children endure before it affects their development pattern?
Will a chain mail fence do instead of a white picket fence? (There's a cost differential.)
What do you think?
Listen to Radio National's All In The Mind podcast about stress.
Amy Chua's new book on parenting Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother.
Chinese ownership versus Western coddling
Here's interesting research I found on Chris Brogan's blog about the role of parenting in the development of a child's personality and creativity: