Super Nanny Jo Frost on Instinct & Experience.

More from the interview with Jo Frost that I was reading in the paper the other day. Among the many things she commented on was this quote that “She uses instinct and experience rather than books and theories, something few parents manage these days.” And once again one has to agree with her there.

There is an oversupply of books on the market at the moment (not to mention Videos, and DVD’s!) One only has to go into a Bookstore and see the large range of self-help books available on just about any and every topic available to see this is true.

Whilst not denying that one can learn a lot from books (and believe me I have,) one still has to take the plunge sometimes and go on instinct and “Gut feelings” too. Sure sometimes you will fall, but if you learn from your mistakes, you shouldn’t make the same ones again, should you. And after all, how are you ever going to get experience, if you never try? You will never find out what will and won’t work for you, unless you experiment and try, will you?

Like wise she says “the fear of failing is one reason mums and dads don’t have that confidence to make parenting decisions.”

Again this is also true as much in everyday life, as in parenting isn’t it? Again if we are that afraid to do anything for fear of making a mistake, we will make the biggest mistake of all by not giving leadership and direction to those who not only need it but also we will never get it from anyone else, if we don’t give it first, will they?

So, there comes a time when all book learning and external advice needs to be internalised and acted upon in our own lives as we put our “head knowledge” into practice and gain practical experience first hand. So how are you going? Are you still stuck on the theory or are you getting stuck into the practise aspect?