I Pledge To Be an Idle Parent!

I just read a great article by Tom Hodgkinson of The Idler Magazine. Here's the link for those who have a little time to read up:

http://idler.co.uk/features/leave-them-alone/

Here's the summary for those who don't:

Manifesto of the idle parent

• We reject the idea that parenting requires hard work
• We pledge to leave our children alone
• That should mean that they leave us alone, too
• We reject the rampant consumerism that invades children from the moment they are born
• We read them poetry and fantastic stories without morals
• We drink alcohol without guilt
• We reject the inner Puritan
• We fill the house with music and laughter
• We don't waste money on family days out and holidays
• We lie in bed for as long as possible
• We try not to interfere
• We push them into the garden and shut the door so that we can clean the house
• We both work as little as possible, particularly when the kids are small
• Time is more important than money
• Happy mess is better than miserable tidiness
• Down with school
• We fill the house with music and merriment

Tom is a little extreme in his views, but his underlying message, that children learn by being left alone is right on. Enjoy!