Dear sir/madam,
When going on a journey for pleasure, sometimes a guide book is useful. Different authors have different views of a place/people/culture and it's useful to get a range of views. If the trip is more functional, whether you are doing business with people abroad or invading a country, a more trustworthy and factual account may be necessitated.
I would suggest that the journey a parent starts is both pleasurable ..... and at times, a bit like invading a foreign country!!! But the guide books are all so personally based! I have met people who subscribe to Book A because they "tried 'feeding on demand' and it 'worked' for Jimmy" or Book B because "Julie's teeth came through exactly when predicted". I have yet to find anyone who seems to think that any book was written about their child/journey beyond 3 months old.
It struck me a long time ago that your entire livelihood is dependant upon the insecurities of parents. Children are all different! That is a fact. Teeth come at different times. They learn to crawl/walk at different rates. The number of factors affecting their development is too numerous to fit into any book.
Your incessant ranting that, "By x months, your child should be drinking from a cup/saying 3 words/sorting toys according to colour/etc/etc" just puts pressure on parents who are already concerned that they do the best for their offspring. The parents who don't share these concerns are not likely to buy your books anyway!
I can proudly say that I have only read what I have been directed to read by my partner, an intelligent woman who wants only the best for our son. I dare say that if I searched hard enough, I could find a book to contradict (or at least cast doubt on) most of what I read.
I am the youngest of five children. All developed at different rates and made it to adulthood with children of our own. My parents have 16 grandchildren & 4 great grandchildren. They are a source of information that beats every book I've ever seen on childhood. Through the last 19 months, I have talked to my parents and older brothers and sisters about every stage of our son's life. I value their opinion, the fact that they care enough to tell me if I should worry, and care enough to not want me to worry means I trust them. I know I am lucky to have a family like this, but without them, I would turn to friends.
I am sure your experiences and your opinions are valuable to those you care for and those who know and trust you, but why do you think you should inflict them on total strangers?
Yours,
Welsh Letters.
