There is a huge fuss over whether or not Brittney Spears is a fit parent.  Too bad the scrutiny that she is receiving doesn’t happen with the majority of children.  I’m not taking her side.  I’m just saying that there are far worse situations that children face every day.  A bad parent isn’t the worse thing that a child can face.  If the parent is self-focused, self-absorbed, and selfish in all her ways, it doesn’t mean she doesn’t have the right to raise her kids.  If that was all it took then there would be hundreds of kids taken out of homes every day.

Bad parents don’t mean dangerous parents. 

There is a foster child that the government is threatening to send to his grandmother in Mexico because he needs to be “brought up in his own culture” (his dad is from Mexico).  The foster family wanted to adopt the boy (whom they have had for almost his entire life).  What’s even more disturbing is that the father (imprisoned for child molestation) will be living with the grandmother as well.

All children deserve a safe home.  Odds are pretty good that with as many people as surround the “stars” their kids will get protection.  Taking custody away from one bad parent and giving it to the other bad parent is only trauma for the children.  Besides, there is not law against being a “bad” parent; it’s the dangerous ones that we need to be concerned about.

Every child I have ever known loves to play in the dirt and it may be one of the best ways to engage your child in the educational process without him even knowing what hit him.  Planting a garden gives a child a first hand knowledge of science, math, and geography.  Gardening also gives a child a personal stake in the vegetables that are grown so he might be more likely to try what’s for dinner - especially if it’s his.

Starting a garden requires a basic knowledge of how things grow.  The child can research the plants that are best for his region and the time of year.  He can use science and math to pick the best location for the garden.  Geography can be used to lay out the garden (especially if you choose to do a space saving garden like a “square foot” garden.

Determining the location and the best plants is just the beginning.  Each plant requires a different planting method.  Each plant must be watered and weeded regularly.  Each plant must be watched for pests and diseases.  And finally, the harvest must be taken in.

Planting a garden gives a child the chance to grow things they might otherwise never try.  It lets him use hands on experience to learn about science and math and geography.  And more importantly, it will give you and your child time together that you might never had any other way.