(RANT) What they don't tell you about being a parent

Being a parent is hard. Sometimes really hard. There are soooooo many things that come up unexpectedly. With the millions, perhaps billions of people who have become parents in the last 50,000-100,000 years don't you think we would have passed this information on to our kids at some stage?

When I was growing up I had a great childhood. I lived in the country near my Uncle's dairy farm. Every weekend I would go out with my friends and climb the mountains that surrounded our little house. Sometimes we would fish or play army. Sometimes we even went skinny dipping in the creek a few paddocks over, or slid down grassy hills on old bits of cardboard until our clothes were dirty and our bums were sore.

School was ok. I didn;t really do that well at school. I excelled in music, playing multiple instruments for various bands. I won a few awards and had some fun.

Then I hit the workforce. Got a girlfriend, got married, had kids and now I'm here. (This is the very very very abridged version)

Now......nowhere in my working life, school life or personal life did anyone tell me about how hard things are when you become a new parent. We all put up this mask when we catch up with friends.
"Hi Bob"
"Hi Mike, how's things?"
"Great Bob. just peachy"
What Mike is really saying is. I'm tired, I don't have enough time for myself. I am constantly doing things for other people. My wife and I just had a huge fight and I don't really want to be here at the moment.

These are the shadows of parenting that no-one likes to talk about or mention. I ask everyone WHY THE HELL NOT????

If we talk about these things, people can share their experiences, maybe even give an opinion or advice.
Here are a few of the things that I reckon we should ALL be taught at some stage. Whether it is by our parents. The schooling system or perhaps even put our taxes to use and get government funding for this.

1. Communication.
We learn how to talk. (Thanks mum and dad) Schools teach us the difference between there, their and they're. We learn to write assignments and essays. But not how to COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY. We are not taught to identify how we are feeling about something. Let alone express this. Nor are we taught about the ancient art of hearing. Sure we can all listen, but how many of us actually hear?? How many arguments have you had with partners, workmates, friends simply because he is saying oranges but you are hearing apples??

2. Relationships
In school we put a condom on a banana. That was about the extent of our training in relationships. My parents divorced when I was 15. I love my mum and dad heaps but together at that point in my life, they were not the shining stars of wisdom when it came to managing relationships. No-one tells us that relationships take alot of time and effort. Movie's, TV, books, magazines the internet, most of these portals for information depict relationships as satin sheets and kissing whilst rolling in the sand with waves breaking over you. This is bullshit. Relationships are about being there. Working together and making a commitment. This is hard work. My parents never taught me this. School never taught me this. Worklife has helped a little but only when I took the step to teach myself did this information present itself.

3. Money.
Why do we work? Money! This computer I am typing on now......came because of money. When I was in grade 1 we had these things called a dolomite account. Every week you put $1 in it. Then one day.....if you saved really hard.....you could buy some lollies, a bike, leggo or a day hanging out with the popular kid. That's great and all but at the age of six or seven, money is not something you put much value on. You pester your parents to buy you something, not realising they sacrifice so much to give it to you. It's not that you don't care.....your just too young to understand. Then you hit highschool. Unless you had a partime job. You did not learn about money. The fartherest they went was perhaps putting a $ sign in front of a calculation in maths. We spend about 25% of our week going to work....what for? money! Yet we don't get educated about how to use this money to create a better life for ourselves and our families.

4.Nutrition.
How many of us pack on a few pounds that we don't really need? Raise your hands.....Raise them!!
Next to our Yankee mates, Australia has the highest rate of obesity in the world. Eating patterns start early. Teaching our kids to eat healthy is a gift for life. I know some schools are just starting to rub the sleep from their eyes and wake up to this.....but really. Why the hell did it take this long?

Now don't get me wrong. I don't think the world owes me these things and I'm not saying that answers to all the hard things in life should be given to me on a platter but why the hell am I thinking of these things. Why the fuck do I feel so passionate about them. Why am I going to try with every fibre of my being to teach these things to my own kids. Because I wasn't taught these things and I'm pissed that no-one had the forsight to tell me and prepare me a little for life.
Parents - These are your trainers for the big game called life. If they let you down, your pretty fucked.
School - We pay for our kids to learn. But they aren't taught about the things that will really help them in life like the four points above. WHY NOT I ASK????
Government - Don't get me started.

I make an oath to help my children be as prepared for life as I can. Being a parent is hard. Life is hard. But things don't seem as difficult when you can are prepared. Help your kids be prepared. It's a gift for life.