I’m a little neurotic anyway.\u00c2\u00a0 I think I’m also probably just on the edge of being OC.\u00c2\u00a0 Anyhoo, ever since I stumbled upon this Discordian thing, I’ve used it to reassess things I do in my little life.\u00c2\u00a0 One of those being Daddyhood.<\/p>\n
I was a Dad before I was a Discordian.\u00c2\u00a0 Or, I was a Dad before I discovered I WAS a Discordian, or at least, a Dad who had inherently shared some Discordian-like philosophies.\u00c2\u00a0 I think it was really the discussions that lead to the BIP metaphor and pamphlet where I really started to reassess how I was operating as a Father.\u00c2\u00a0 And I’m not talking about the basics of feeding, clothing, providing shelter, that sort of thing.\u00c2\u00a0 It’s really more about the guidance I provide her.\u00c2\u00a0 I’m well aware that no matter what I do, I WILL be a major factor in how her bars in her BIP are built.\u00c2\u00a0 There’s simply no way around it, not that there should be.\u00c2\u00a0 The question becomes, how can I best allow her to maximize HER control over her bars?\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n
An easy example is when she was a young toddler she took a fascination to trains.\u00c2\u00a0 I think it started with a free book the pediatrician gave us during one of her checkups.\u00c2\u00a0 A basic board book about trains.\u00c2\u00a0 Naturally, she eventually became aware of Thomas the Tank Engine and became enamored with the TV show and the toys.\u00c2\u00a0 Western societal norms suggest that these would be “boy toys”.\u00c2\u00a0 When you see the commercials or ads in magazines, they show little boys dressed in blue playing with these things.\u00c2\u00a0 Rarely do you see a little girl.\u00c2\u00a0 Now, I know, I know, “big whoop, you let your girl play outside of the gender box.”\u00c2\u00a0 And you’re right.\u00c2\u00a0 But the thing of it is, there are many parents out there who would steer a little girl towards Barbies and away from Trains and Trucks.\u00c2\u00a0 And it can often be an unthinking or unreasoned reaction.\u00c2\u00a0 This is what I try to avoid, without becoming anal about it.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n
I think this falls under the “picking your battles” meme that is pervasive in many a Parenting book or magazine.\u00c2\u00a0 Where this meme falls short, however, is delving into normative behaviors.\u00c2\u00a0 It’s great to explain to a Parent how sometimes it doesn’t make sense to fuss over whether or not they eat every single carrot.\u00c2\u00a0 But what I would like to see more of is talking to parents about not making a fuss over every time their child acts a little goofy in public.\u00c2\u00a0 I think many parents try so hard to prevent their child from becoming Dennis the Menace that they end up unwittingly caging their character.\u00c2\u00a0 The joyful anarchy of childhood needs to be unrestrained and allowed to explore the territory of the world.\u00c2\u00a0 Obviously, this has to happen within the confines of safety and security.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n
Discovering the Discordian philosophies and being a part of the development of the BIP ideas has been a very good experience for me as a Daddy.\u00c2\u00a0 I think I have developed a\u00c2\u00a0better understanding of just how much I can impact without knowing.\u00c2\u00a0 It’s given me a unique perspective on my role as a parent.\u00c2\u00a0 As much as I need to keep her physically and mentally safe, I also need to provide the freedom for HER to find out who she is.\u00c2\u00a0 It is a joy to see it unfold.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I’m a little neurotic anyway.\u00c2\u00a0 I think I’m also probably just on the edge of being OC.\u00c2\u00a0 Anyhoo, ever since I stumbled upon this Discordian thing, I’ve used it to reassess things I do in my little life.\u00c2\u00a0 One of those being Daddyhood. I was a Dad before I was a Discordian.\u00c2\u00a0 Or, I was … Continue reading Being a Discordian Daddy<\/span>