Carpool lines.
Athletic games.
Music lessons.
The day-to-day work of raising children often leaves little room for thinking beyond the demands of the next few hours. Throw in the eyebrow-raising curveballs (“Where do babies come from?”) and spontaneous moments that call for wisdom (“Do I have to be friends with everyone at school?”) and it’s a wonder that anyone bringing up babies has a chance to think at all.
Strange as it may seem, finding a moment to reflect on parenting as a century-spanning experience can infuse meaning into the tasks and talks that comprise family life. Author of Christian Parenting: Wisdom and Perspectives from American History David Petran points to 5 Books on the History of Christian Parenting in America that document past virtues that may still shape present views—views like feeling called to public schools or what it means to love our neighbors.
Learning from past parents won’t make raising kids an easy task, but it may alleviate some of the loneliness in moms, dads, and caregivers. It may help parents feel less like they’re lost on a never-ending journey and more like they’re placing their feet on an intentional path others have tread before them. And maybe, every once in a while, it’ll shed light on the answers to those curveball questions, too.
