This is a rather amusing argument for parenting while stoned on pot but this kind of honesty as a parent is rare – we’re much more comfortable with parents compartmentalising themselves – and I wonder how the general parenting community will feel about this notion of truthfulness?
As anyone who inhaled during college can attest, cannabis enhances the ability to perceive beauty, complexity and novelty in otherwise mundane things (grout patterns in your bathroom floor, the Grateful Dead, Doritos), while simultaneously locking you into a prolonged state of rapt attention. You not only notice the subtle color variations in your cat’s fur, you stare at them in loving awe for 20 solid minutes. I submit that this can be enormously salutary to the parent-toddler relationship. Beyond food, shelter and clothing, what do small children need most from their parents? Sustained, loving, participatory attention.
Also interesting to consider how differently this article might have been received if it were written by a mother.. or by someone less middle class than an art dealer in The New York Times?
I think there’s a few things at play with the piece and how it’s received. I think the fact that the author has a medical marijuana card plays a huge factor. Imagine if it was another parent writing about being on any other prescription med and parenting, you know? The fact that he’s legally (in his state) able to do so takes a bit – not all, certainly – of the taboo from it. Here are two somewhat recent posts from/on mothers who smoke & the responses are all over the place: http://offbeatmama.com/2012/03/pot-smoking-parents
http://moms.today.com/_news/2012/07/16/12752632-pot-smoking-moms-tired-of-being-judged-by-wine-drinkers?lite
Thanks for the comment and the links. I have a soft spot for that pot smoking vs wine drinking mummy wars idea. Why can’t we all just get drunk and stoned and get along? Hahaha.
No prob. You know I share your sentiment!
There have been studies done in Jamaica (where it’s easier to control for class issues since the population smokes pot across class) that show that moms who smoke pot enjoy their kids more and enjoy motherhood more. I looked those up a long long time ago when we were waiting to adopt and I was exploring studies about drug use during pregnancy so I couldn’t find them now but still! Interesting!
There have been some interesting discussions on Offbeat Mama about drugs and parenting (http://offbeatmama.com/2012/03/pot-smoking-parents if you’re interested)
I’m firmly in the camp of people who see cannabis as the same as alcohol. I’m not crazy about the idea of anyone being responsible for really young children while under the influence, but there’s a big difference between a glass of two or wine and a whole bottle, so no reason something similar can’t apply to cannabis.
Hmm… been struggling a bit lately to stay ‘in the moment’ with my children… My mind keeps wandering off to all the other things I have to do.
[...] parents? Sustained, loving, participatory attention. Thank you, Doctor.” (Der Link kam über diesen [...]