Parenting 101

Tonight I had a great dinner with 14 lovely ladies and one cutie pie little guy. When we get together we always have lots of fun and interesting conversations. One story peaked my interest and helped form tonight's topic. One of the ladies was talking about a crazy dysfunctional parent who probably had no business having children. It got me thinking about parenting styles. Unfortunately, babies don't come with a how to manual. In turn toddlers, tweens and teenagers don't have one either! To me (says the woman with no children) Parenting 101 should be common sense. It seems like lately common sense has been thrown out and convenience has replaced it. It should be common sense that discipline is the parents responsibility. Not someone else's. For example, you better sit down or the waiter is going to get you. Hmm, why not just please sit down? Or you better stop. Aunt Allison will spank you if you don't. Why make the party not involved the bad guy? Isn't it the parents job to take the child and discipline them? Why fear your child? Aren't you the parent, not the friend? Don't your children need a parent and not someone who is going to pawn their disciplinarian role onto someone else so they can be the "cool' parent? Am I way off base in thinking this? Thoughts and comments are welcome.