We need to pass tests to get a driver’s license. No one can get out of high school without a lot of passing grades on exams. You have to sign your name in order to vote. We need to put in a certain amount of hours at work before earning vacation pay or a promotion. So, it must be easy to become a parent because there aren’t really any mandatory requirements. Unfortunately, there’s no logic if one is to believe that the lack of training or tests actually implies that parenting is easy. It’s not. Fortunately, everyone has parenting tips. Many of us were brought up with Dr Spock’s advice (constantly updated). Grandparents, aunts and uncles, siblings, neighbors, teachers, the crossing guard and the mailman all contributed advice to my parents. Now we have cable networks full of pundits with advice on parenting (as well as everything else), so I find out a lot of useful information about raising kids. Thanks, everyone, but I’d feel better if had been trained and tested in advance. Now, I just have to keep my fingers crossed that I’m a good parent. Wish me luck.