Is it just since the Britney Spears custody stories that more parenting workshops are springing up? Suddenly I’m reading more and more announcements of special workshops available this Fall around the country.

Personally, I think it’s a great idea. It seems the view of raising children has become quite altered since the proliferation of celebrity magazines and entertainment TV shows. From conception, we’re now obsessed with giving our children the best in clothing and nursery room furniture. Nothing is too grand or too expensive for the little ones.

I was raised in California by parents from South Dakota and Minnesota. Back when I was growing up, children “knew their place” and were “seen and not heard.” I don’t agree this is the best advice for raising children, but I do know from raising my own that children crave routines and discipline to feel safe.

My mother gave me lots of advice before my son was born and most of it I ignored because of the drastic changes in society since she raised us. But one thing that served me well was the advice on following a schedule. I never had any of the issues you see on the “Nanny” reality shows and I believe it’s due to this advice.

From the moment my son was born, he was on a schedule that never changed. I never had a problem putting him down for a nap or getting him to eat. In fact the only time a problem surfaced, was when we were unable to keep the schedule due to a special occasion.

From what I’ve observed in recent years, too much time is spent being a friend to the child instead of being the parent. I was a single parent and even though my son and I spent a lot of time together, I never forgot to discipline at the necessary time. Instead of yelling, I tried to explain why certain “rules” were in effect.

I definately have issues with children running and yelling in:

• Restaurants
• Merchant Stores
• Supermarkets

When my son was a toddler, I took him out in social situations to provide him with the rules of being in society. When he was still in a high chair I had to make sure I finished my meal by the time he was done because soon he was restless and would get loud. We’d make a fast exit, but keep going back to restaurants until he knew how to behave.

Shopping can be another event when the sights and sounds are too much for young children and they want to touch everything. My rule was “hands in your pockets” as soon as we reached the store. As soon as he started to wonder away or touch anything, I would remind him where his hands should be.

Like any child, my son would have a few tantrums and forget the rules, but from what I’ve seen, not as often or as bad as most other children.

I truly believe parenting workshops are a necessity in today’s busy and electronic world. How about you?