Centric Livestyles

Cultural Shift To Raise Babies In Real-World Situations?

By
Relationship Advice Expert April Masini

Q: Dear April Masini,

I recently read of a national party group that has babies in adult disco settings, complete with cash bars and adult music. An organizer reportedly said children's music isn't the real world, and instead this club music is, so that's what they need to hear. Is there a shift to raise children in an adult world starting from birth?

Sincerely,

Babied Her Babies 

A:

Dear Babied Her Babies,

Child-centric lives have been the last wave of parenting. Women wait longer to have children or decide to have children later in life than ever before. Fertility rates are sky high, and when these children are born, they're treated like they walk on water. Don't get me wrong -- cherishing life and children is fabulous, but there has been a wave of parenting that makes "hands-on" parenting seem like neglect. Parents have recently been involved in EVERY aspect of their childrens' lives, cross referencing baby raising books, websites and live consultations, and as a result, childrens' lives have begun to look more like adults' lives, scheduled and booked up with play-dates and toddler spa days like never before.

Part of this is a result of women having children later in life when after 40, they've already achieved financial success and tasted a pampered life, themselves, and they're not ready to give up mani-pedi dates at the salon just because they have a baby in tow. So they bring their toddlers along for baby mani-peds. And so it goes. 

In a way, the pendulum has swung back to a more adult centered lifestyle. Only there is so much wealth and luxury now, that the adult lifestyle is not like it used to be. In many tribes in less civilized countries, babies have no choice but to go or be with their parents and become part of their parents' adult lives instead of the other way around -- parents dropping everything to make sure the child hasn't touched any milk products because of possible lactose intolerance, as an example. Traditionally tribes saw children "worn" on the body in papooses and slings -- primitive versions of what can now be purchased in high end baby and maternity stores. Babies used to not only sleep in the same bed as their parents, but usually the entire family did -- or the same room. And children didn't balk at "chores". Instead they worked because they needed to for the family's survival. 

But while there is a much richer lifestyle here in America, it makes sense that the babies, while being brought back into the adult lifestyle, are being brought into a luxury lifestyle.

April Masini -- nicknamed "the new millennium's Dear Abby" by the media, is author of the best-selling books Date Out Of Your League and Think & Date Like A Man, the two (just released) step-by-step dating and relationship manuals, Ideas for a Fun Date and Romantic Date Ideas, and the critically acclaimed dating and relationship online magazine www.AskApril.com.

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