'I am a dad, how to raise your children with common sense': finally, the first book of our Armando

Many of us who have known Armando for a few years have told him that he had to write a book sometime. With that sensitivity he has and because of his way of communicating so close, he had to share with the world his experiences as a father and his particular vision of parenting. Well, he has listened to us: it is a pleasure to announce that finally, his first book 'I'm a dad, how to raise your children with common sense'.

It is a book simmered with love, full of meaning, feeling, and much of what has been told here in Babies and more. But it is also a book with surprise, because as one it was not enough for everything that was saved, Soon two more books will come.

For those who do not know him, Armando Bastida has been editor of Babies and more for almost ten years, but he is also a pediatric nurse and, first and foremost, father of three children (11, 8 and 4 years old) who changed his life and his conception of parenting.

It's a bit weird to interview a partner who is with us every day, but we wanted him to tell us something more about his project. When we ask him why he decided to write a book, Armando tells us:

About this a few years ago (I speak of 2011). I had been writing in Babies for three years and more when a follower, who soon became a friend, told me that I had to write a book, that many of the things I said on the blog had to end up somehow embodied in paper.

At that time I said no, that it was early, that I still didn't feel that I could address other parents and that I needed my children to grow more, to be older, for me to see myself with more problems, more experiences, more solutions. I thought "when you have all the answers, new questions appear."

Thus came a moment, two or three years later, in which I began to collect items. After a lot of words written here and elsewhere, I saw that many of the things written could finally be a book (in fact, there will be three). Why? Especially the desire to keep on paper a lot of hours dedicated to sending a message of respect and affection towards the children, but also making it possible for other mothers and fathers to have it on paper, more palpable, closer, more at hand .

What will we find in your first book?

The first part of a larger project, which went from being a book, then two and finally three. Five chapters in which I talk about the beginning, a little about pregnancy, a little about the arrival of the baby, and then I navigate the world of emotions as parents (and mothers), about relationships with other people, about how motherhood and fatherhood transforms us and how the rest of society and children live it. Above all of them, to try to explain how I see them, how I think they are, so that parents have one more opinion, one more vision with which to make decisions when raising.

How do you see fatherhood today?

In a very strange moment. Exciting when I see parents wanting to be part of the education and upbringing of children, from respect and affection, hugging and kissing their children, counting on them and making them partakers of many decisions, always with the responsibility of transmitting norms and values ​​(this should never be lost).

But with some sadness when I see that many patterns of the parents of yesteryear continue to be repeated: with poorly involved parents, who think that children must be educated through lack, loneliness, continuous demand, because they believe that they are subjected to more tests, better for them, when many may feel precisely the opposite, that they demand something unattainable, and will never be enough ... and we must not forget that today's society is formed by the children of authoritarianism.

Are there any wonderful people? Of course, but immobility in the face of constant injustices only shows us that we were taught too well to be obedient and not to raise our voices in the face of injustices. This must change, and each generation has the opportunity to do so. It depends on parents and educators.

How has parenting changed in recent years?

At a point of loss and search for new references. Many copy patterns, simply: what they did to me (although it seemed fatal to me as a child), I repeat it; many have decided not to do it, to break, and to do it very differently: some have moved towards permissiveness, not being adequate in the current social moment; and others have moved towards a type of upbringing in which the parents act as an example and as a guide, leaving freedom for the child to choose, think, create and learn according to their motivations, but setting standards so that they can be part of our society being respectful of the rest of the members.

It is clear that many things have changed for the better in parenting, but what do you think we should rescue from parenting?

Bearing in mind that what prevailed was the punishment, the flip-flop, the "when dad comes, you find out" and so many and so few educational phrases and actions, I don't see what we could rescue. Beyond the love that every father and mother had for their children, I save almost nothing. Perhaps the issue of being responsible when giving and valuing material things. At that time the parents just gave us more than on the dates indicated, we inherited things from our brothers and everything was taken care of more.

Now many children have too many gifts, if something breaks, another one is bought, and if I have spent little time with you and I want a hug from you, I buy you something and get it. But this, of course, is an educational error of so many that are carried out in many circles. A change for the worse. And the outside game ... it's a shame that today's children have lost it in many cases. But this is a social problem: before we spent hours on the street, and now it is almost unthinkable, because we feel that cities are much more insecure, and many end up spending dead hours in front of the screens ... tooooda society should consider again to children part of the gear: modify work schedules so that we could spend more time with them, that cities were safer, that parents did not have to work so hard to have a place to live and bring a plate to the table , etc. But of course, in a country like ours, it is a true utopia.

Hopefully our children decide to hit the table that we are not giving, and it is we who thank them for being able to do so.

In addition to the more than 3,700 articles he has written on Babies and more, you can read Armando's first book, which can be purchased here dedicated, on Amazon and also in bookstores. Congratulations, partner!

I'm dad How to raise your children with common sense - Volume 1: Volume 1

Today in amazon for € 17.28