The Idle Parent

I recently read a great book called "The Idle Parent" by Tom Hodgkinson.  This book was fantastic, and I have really taken on board The Idle Parent Manifesto.

The Manifesto Of An 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

I don't know about the drinking alcohol part, but only because I just don't drink, but everything else makes perfect sense.  Now if only I could get Mick to follow suit....