The Logical Mama

Now, I want to make it clear that by nicknaming myself the Logical Mama, I in no way mean to imply I'm a perfect parent and therefore the most logical choice for being a mother. In fact, my long-term friends might tell you quite the opposite, as one still tells me from time to time, "I can't believe you're a mom!" 

I'm not at all insulted by that statement. I know what she means. I was Miss Independent, Miss I'm-Not-Dating-in-College-Lest-I-Be-Distracted-From-My-Career-Path.  I regarded most children as standoffish, sticky, drooling short stacks and feared any interaction with them. I was the youngest child growing up and had no experience with child rearing. And since I was always ten going on forty, sixteen going on forty, twenty going on eighty... Well, you get the picture. I was child-dense.

Lacking a skill has never stopped me from attempting something new, and parenting was no different. I basically approach this parenting thing the way I would approach a project given to me by a supervisor in my career. In fact, I pretty much treat it like a Marketing Plan. 

Goals
Every marketing plan must begin with clearly defined goals. What do I want for my children? What don't I want for them? Do I want to spoil them? Or should they learn to earn what they have instead? You can't define your parenting style until you figure out what it is you want your children to have, to experience and to avoid. 

I found that when I was working a job I hated, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with one late night (7 p.m.) thrown in for good measure, I was not the parent I wanted to be. I yelled. A lot. And I hated myself for it. After I left, I immediately adopted some peaceful parenting philosophies and saw a noticeable, positive change in my children. So make sure you understand what kind of parent you want to be, and do some research if you also have some gaps to fill.

Target Audience
I've got my target audience figured out. Toddlers. Boys. Most companies can identify the same - but many fail to dig deeper, and in today's marketing environment, that's a huge mistake. You have to know what your audience wants, what makes them tick, what they want to learn about, laugh about, and how. Ask, what does my target audience value? What story do they have to tell? 

I find it's helpful to consider their likes/dislikes, the age appropriateness of an activity and whether or not the experience will make them excited, happy, engaged.  Sure, I might think a nature walk at the Root Glen would make for a nice outing, but take two boys under the age of five, add in two walking sticks and a bunch of perky spring flowers, and after a few minutes you will be standing in the middle of what looks like a crime scene. I'm talking walking sticks versus flowers, and (spoiler alert!) the flowers don't make it. Instead, I consider their fascination with wild animals and suggest a trip to the zoo.  

Competitive Analysis
Don't. Just don't. Don't compare yourself to other parents or compare your children to other children. It can be disastrous for you and upsetting to your children as well. Do, however, look into new ideas, projects, activities, etc.  And be kind, not judgmental, to other parents.

Someone didn't want to leave the beach.

When I was single, an angry, upset, temper-tantrum throwing child was scoffed at. Now, having been at the receiving end of some of those out-of-absolutely-nowhere-tantrums, I sympathize. I told a mother the other day whose child was melting down that we've all been there and she was doing a great job. We don't expect ourselves to be perfect - why do we expect our children to be?

Sales and Marketing Strategy
Undermine importance of ridiculously expensive toys (Pffft! A robot dinosaur that has wheels for feet? Like THAT would ever happen in Jurassic Park.) and sell them on playing with what they already have.  

My husband and I both will get out some of the discarded, forgotten toys when our children are fighting over an item and start playing. Voila! All of a sudden that toy is super cool again and they already forgot what they are fighting about. 

Subterfuge. I'm all about it.

I'm also all about research, and always have been, no matter what point in my life. I loved research-rich classes in college, enjoyed tackling new territory at any job, and I have an equal fervor for learning all I can about this challenge we call parenting.  

Almost every day, I'm exploring new, fun, educational activities that will entertain and engage my children in learning.  When I wanted to change how I interacted with my children, I did some Googling and came across articles on peaceful parenting. Some things we have an instinct for, some parenting tactics are innate, and others we can seek out, search for, try, fail at and then try again. 

As long as it comes from a place of love.