Parenting @ MindSay

           Yesterday afternoon, Laurie, Molly and I were in the kitchen.  Number Three Child came in and said, “Mommy, Number Four Child is hitting me with a towel.”

 

            Molly said, “You did the right thing, Number Three.  You came and told me about it.  Now I can help you.  Now we can do something about it in a good way.”

 

            As they both exited the kitchen, Number Three said, “Yeah, Mommy.  I only hit her two times before I remembered.”

What are the important factors that go into creating an ideal situation to bring up kids? Well, the role of the mom and dad-essentially, good parenting skills-is crucial. However, other things, such as the environment, education, and community too play a role.

We bring you GreatDad's list of the five best cities to raise your kids in:

5. Boston, Massachusetts: This largest city in New England is especially known for its excellent standards of higher education. Forbes magazine rated the Boston public school system, the oldest public school system in America, as the best in the world. Music, arts, sports, and a world-class urban environment make this a great city to raise your kids in.

4. Miami, Florida: Think about sun, surf, and cosmopolitan bustle and you think Miami. But there's much more: this city has the largest school district in the world, an active sporting culture, and a beautiful climate year round. Your kids can nurture a love for nature through their visits to Parrot Jungle, Monkey Jungle, and Fairchild Tropical Gardens.

3. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Located on the banks of the Mississippi, this is the largest city in Minnesota. With a flourishing art scene, Minneapolis enjoys the presence of a community of musicians, artists, writers, and actors. Its residents love the outdoors and rate sports highly. All in all, this city with its lakes and parks is one great place to bring up your kids.

2. San Diego, California: Blessed with a sunny beachside atmosphere, this city has much more than water sports on offer. With a high per capita income, San Diego also offers good education opportunities-it has a medical school and at least three accredited law schools. And this is a city that almost knows no crime. Besides, special attractions for children abound, such as San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld San Diego, and Legoland.

1. Denver, Colorado: This scenic city, situated at the foot of the Southern Rocky mountains, is the capital of Colorado. Denver is home to the sprawling Denver Performing Arts Complex. Besides, the city has also spawned eight professional sports teams. Denver also has a pleasant natural environment all the year round, with winter sports such as skiing in the winter. All this makes it the best place to bring up your kids.

Which celebrity would you trust your children with? Definitely not Michael Jackson. With constant media scrutiny on every parenting decision they make, celebrities who are dads definitely have it tough. Here's GreatDad's unofficial list of top celebrity dads.

Celebrity Dad #6: David Beckham
Even Beckham's worst detractors in the media cannot fault the handsome football champion for his parenting skills. Praised by everyone as a model dad, Beckham is also known to be a devoted father to his sons, Brooklyn, Romeo, and Cruz.

Celebrity Dad #5: Johnny Depp
The wild Hollywood rebel known for his eclectic (and often weird) roles is surprisingly protective and caring of his children, daughter Lily-Rose and son Jack, from girlfriend Vanessa Paradis. Choosing to raise them in the healthy French countryside, Depp even 'wears' their names as tattoos.

Celebrity Dad #4: Peter Andre
Recently, more than 2000 mothers across the UK voted in a poll to vote in Andre as the father of the year. Describing himself as "over the moon", the pop star did confess to having wanted this kind of recognition. "For the last couple of years I've been saying that if there's any kind of award I could win it would be dad of the year," he has revealed.

Celebrity Dad #3: Matt Damon
The Academy Award-winning screenwriter and actor plays loving father to Alexia, wife Luciana's daughter from a previous marriage, and Isabella, the couple's first child. A second child is also on the way.

Celebrity Dad #2: Will Smith
The acclaimed actor is a complete family man, happiest when he is with his wife and kids. The doting dad has even shared the screen with his kids: son Jaden has acted with him in The Pursuit of Happyness and daughter Willow in I Am Legend. Treyball Development Inc., the Beverly Hills-based company that Smith co-owns with his brother, is named after his first son, Trey.

Celebrity Dad #1: Brad Pitt
If there ever is an Academy Award for the best performance as a father, Pitt would be nominated, simply for his parenting style. Pitt, already father to four kids, Maddox, Pax, Zahara, and Shiloh, is keenly awaiting the birth of the twins wife Angelina Jolie is carrying.

Here's a funny story for dads and kids to enjoy.

An older, tired-looking dog wandered into my yard; I could tell from his collar and well-fed belly that he had a home and was well taken care of.

He calmly came over to me, I gave him a few pats on his head; he then followed me into my house, slowly walked down the hall, curled up in the corner and fell asleep.

An hour later, he went to the door, and I let him out.

The next day he was back, greeted me in my yard, walked inside and resumed his spot in the hall and again slept for about an hour. This continued off and on for several weeks.

Curious I pinned a note to his collar: ' I would like to find out who the owner of this wonderful sweet dog is and ask if you are aware that almost every afternoon your dog comes to my house for a nap.'

The next day he arrived for his nap, with a different note pinned to his collar: 'He lives in a home with 6 children, 2 under the age of 3 - he's trying to catch up on his sleep. Can I come with him tomorrow?' 

Moms and dads are usually considered to have inherently different sets of parenting skills.

Traditionally it has been thought that women are better at multi-tasking, remembering how their offspring like their packed lunches or when their swimming club is, while men are supposedly more adept at playing with their kids.

Although that is beginning to change as more dads stay at home to look after their children, generally the roles simply reverse.

However, there is now a new trend emerging for parents to be partners in raising their children, working equal hours, taking equal responsibility for the home and spending equal time with their kids.

The New York Times reported on this phenomenon earlier this week. It spoke to Jessica DeGroot, founder of the ThirdPath Institute, who said: "Women entering the work force changed the work force far more dramatically than it changed things back home."

Parenting skills and responsibilities are still divided in American homes even if the mother goes to work, as are household duties. Recent figures from the University of Wisconsin show that in households where both adults work, the wife does 28 hours of housework while the husband does 16.

In a bid to change this unfair dynamic some couples are forging a different path, embracing equal parenting in a bid to share the load.

It may not work for anyone, but this is likely to be a growing trend among modern families, particularly as a recent survey suggested that many American dads would be willing to take a pay cut in order to spend more time with their children.