Perhaps parents who have a “curriculum” for the development of their children are lacking confidence in their own capabilities – if they follow an established path (parent by numbers, as I call it), what could possibly go wrong?

A lot as it turns out, because the imposition of external ‘rules for development’ will inevitably conflict with the intrinsically driven, uniquely configured and often unpredictable actual development of the individual child. I think when a parent understands that and is willing to rise above an obsession with directing their children’s behaviour to meet externally imposed criteria, becoming more flexible and more creative will naturally follow and with that more desirable outcomes that speak for themselves.

From my own experiences, I would say it’s not stretching the point too much to suggest that, when it comes to successful parenting, “amateurs” use a curriculum; “professionals” improvise.

This is true in so many examples (like yours) that I see every day. Making kids eat food they don’t like when we’d never cook foods we or our spouses wouldn’t eat! Forcing clothing — would WE wear stuff we didn’t like or was uncomfortable — and just random stuff “It’s time to stop playing, not right now, etc.”–which are all necessary when they’re necessary, but not when we just can’t be bothered.

Rock on, sister!