Some say we’re raising our children in The Age of Information, and who can argue with this? If we need any insights to support our parenting, it’s literally at our fingertips within seconds.
Like an acorn falling from the tree of knowledge tree, all this information can be a blessing and a curse.
Maybe a better name for this generation of parenting would be…The Age of Information Anxiety
As moms of the new millenium, we have so much to worry about: car seats, flu shots, preschool sign-ups, IQ testing, brand names, bullying, peer pressure, screen time, perfect party planning, and more. 
A quick web search on topics like these (below) could send our heads spinning and cause any mom to “Go Chicken Little”…
The effects of high fructose corn syrup on children… “Help! The sky is falling; the sky is falling!!!… I just read that I may doom my child to obesity because I allowed him to put ketchup on his broccoli to get him to eat it. What should I do???? Skip the broccoli or risk obesity???”
How to properly perform time out procedures with toddlers… “Help! The sky is falling; the sky is falling… I can’t get timeout to work for my child… There must be something wrong with me because it’s not changing my child’s behavior.”
Is it ever okay to take away a child’s “lovie”?… “Help! the sky is falling; the sky is falling… Yesterday I took away my 4 year old’s favorite bear because he’s been hitting his baby brother over the head with it… Did I wreck his self esteem forever?”
Reasons we should avoid too much screen time… “Help! The sky is falling; the sky is falling… I’ve been letting my youngest child watch tv while I cook dinner EVERY NIGHT, and I just read that too much tv can cause ADHD…. AHHH”
Best bets for three year old birthday bashes …”Help! The sky is falling; the sky is falling… I saw the cutest ideas on Pintrest for a three year old birthday party, but the prize baggies have to be sewn, and the cake has to be made from scratch.
If you start searching, there are thousands of opinions all claiming to have each parenting topic perfectly mastered.
Don’t be fooled so easily… YOU are the only one true expert on your parenting situation.
You know exactly what you can handle and what will and will not work in your home. So, don’t let the internet become your Foxy Loxy. It will only add to the fear and anxiety and cloud your natural instincts.
Leave the worrying to Chicken Little, and reflect on the questions below to help you figure out what matters most to you. Once you have done some inner reflection, your little acorn (or family) will grow into the great big oak tree it was meant to be.
What routine parts of the day cause trouble for your kids?
Are my husband and I on the same page with our methods of parenting?
If not, how can we meet in the middle?
What is one new response that is doable for my family?
What are the things that are most important to me and my spouse?
How can I avoid getting sucked into worries about how my parenting compares to the rest of the world?
How can I remember to catch my children being good?
How can I encourage my child to be independent and self regulated?
What are the real safety concerns I need to be aware of for my child’s age level?
Can we live moderately as a family and stay afloat in this sea of information?