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Everything I Learned About Parenting in High School
During my high school years, I enrolled in a Sociology class where our major projects revolved around two significant life events: marriage and parenthood. We partnered up, organized a mock wedding, and participated in a full-scale ceremony complete with white dresses, veils, and cake in the school auditorium. A standout moment was when the teacher who played my father was a charismatic newcomer, garnering admiration from many female students.
As part of our learning experience, we engaged in role-playing scenarios that involved conflict resolution. Before the mock wedding, my pretend spouse—my friend Mark—had to negotiate with my “father” for permission to marry me, offering a brief glimpse into the complexities of marriage. It was a worthwhile exercise, despite the inherent limitations of simulating such a multifaceted relationship in a classroom setting. Factors such as partner personality, financial status, and family dynamics all come into play, creating a complex puzzle.
Following the wedding simulation, our teacher handed us a 10-pound sack of flour to represent a baby, which we affectionately named “Kayla,” inspired by my love for the soap opera Days of Our Lives. The rules were strict: we had to carry the sack everywhere, couldn’t leave it in lockers, or even set it down—a somewhat superficial approach to understanding the responsibilities of parenthood.
Now that I have a real child, I realize that the flour sack only scratched the surface of what parenting requires. Reflecting on my high school education, I recognize several subjects that have truly equipped me for parenting:
- Drama: Acting skills are essential for parents. Being able to adopt different personas—whether it’s pretending to be a dinosaur or a superhero—can create joyful moments. I can express anger without losing my cool and find humor in stressful situations.
- Debate/Negotiation: The art of negotiation is vital. Common exchanges like “It’s bedtime,” followed by a series of “why” questions, can turn into a negotiation for just one more story, teaching us to balance authority with empathy.
- Algebra: Understanding the relationship between sleep and parenting is critical. If x is the number of hours until I’m woken by a toddler, and y represents the sleep I need, then y – x illustrates the chronic sleep deprivation many parents face.
- Chemistry: A simple equation to consider: one newborn (NB) plus one hormonal new mother (HNM) multiplied by postpartum anxiety, combined with a relatively stable partner (RSP). The outcome is unpredictable and requires patience and adaptability.
- Music Appreciation: While I might not have become a musical prodigy, surviving elementary band concerts has prepared me for the cacophony of various instruments my child will eventually bring home.
- Physical Education: Although my skills in sports were questionable, I learned the importance of teamwork and creativity—two essential components of parenting.
- Home Economics: Although I could never master sewing, I became adept at preparing meals from scratch. This skill has proven invaluable, allowing me to provide nourishing meals for my family despite my lack of sewing prowess.
Thanks, Riverdale High School, for providing me with these foundational skills. I did pay attention after all!
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Summary
This article reflects on the lessons learned about parenting through high school experiences, highlighting how various subjects contributed to essential parenting skills. By drawing connections between academic lessons and real-life parenting challenges, it emphasizes the importance of creativity, negotiation, and adaptability in raising children.