You can do very few things of importance in America without obtaining some form of a license, permit, or certificate. Your doctor passed a board certification. Your carpenter obtained a building permit before adding that second bathroom. Your teenaged neighbor had to get a license to (recklessly) drive her car. What they all have in common is that their parents didn’t have to do ANYTHING (legally) to have them.
While the debate can go on about the effectiveness of these legal hurdles, the spirit of them is that we as a society are better off when guidelines are set by, and conducted by, those with a certain level of expertise. With population rates growing out of control (says my need to substantiate this opinion) and parenting skills dropping at alarming rates (says my time spent at any public restaurant), can we not create a birthing license for the sake of future generations…and my sanity?
Since you asked, here are the high points of what is covered in the BL exam:
- Logic: As a parent, you’re not asked to be able to cook well, or even at all. But you must be tested to find if you have the logic to recognize good, nutritional food from bad, and weigh the importance of (your) convenience to your child’s well being (because you know who’s not? The company trying to sell you that food)
- Rationality: Letting your kid learn “the hard way” is certainly not something anyone would suggest. But the opposite extreme is much to into play among parents these days. Your son will not die if he doesn’t get a Wii. Everyone at school is not singling your daughter out to pick on. Let’s take the hovering down about 16 notches, shall we?
- Distinguishing Roles: Once you do have a child, you become a parent. Seems easy to follow, right? You’re not a friend, you’re a leader. Your role isn’t to please, it’s to teach. Yeah, he looks like you, but you’re not twins.
- Distinguishing Ages: A 15 year old is different than a 4 year old. Again, seems easy to follow, right? Then STOP rationalizing with an infant as if she can weigh the needs of, and importance to, anyone but herself. (and I guess on the flip side, um, don’t spank your teenager)
Classes last 4 hours every other weekend for 3 months. After passing, you’re free to inseminate/be inseminated up to 3 times. Re-certification is necessary for each child after.
