If Jenny McCarthy can pen entire volumes on parenting, why not Garth Brooks—the reigning king of country music? After taking a significant break from his career to focus on family, Brooks is re-entering the limelight now that his youngest is 18. With his children growing up, he’s ready to reclaim his space in the music world.
Let’s be clear: I’ve never considered myself a Garth Brooks fan. Country music? Not really my scene. However, Brooks isn’t just any artist; he’s a phenomenon. He ranks as the second-bestselling album artist in U.S. history, just behind The Beatles and ahead of Elvis Presley. So, while I may have my doubts, his popularity is undeniable, and as a devoted father of three daughters, he has valuable tips to share.
Recently, People magazine featured him on its cover, highlighting his Top 5 Tips for Raising Daughters. Despite my usual aversion to celebrity parenting advice, I couldn’t resist clicking to see what he had to say. Let’s dive into his advice, but I’ll mix up the order a bit for fun.
1. Set Clear Consequences.
Brooks emphasizes the importance of establishing consequences, particularly regarding grades and cell phone privileges. We’ve all witnessed parents who threaten, “If you do that again, I’m canceling our trip!” only to follow through with the trip anyway. It sends the wrong message. While I struggle to throw away my son’s Legos after stepping on them, I agree that a well-enforced consequence can be a game-changer.
2. Allow Them to Fail.
Yes, you read that right! Brooks shares a story about his daughter playing soccer despite facing tough losses. There’s a growing concern that kids today don’t know how to handle defeat, and I can relate. Observing my children play games, I’ve learned to resist the urge to swoop in and save the day. Instead, I’ve started asking, “Anyone want strategy tips?” and letting them figure it out. When my daughter lost, she proudly remarked, “That’s the least I’ve ever lost by!” It’s all about learning and growing, right?
3. Put Them to Work.
I can totally get behind this one. Brooks made his kids work in restaurants, which is a fantastic way for them to learn the value of hard work and money. My own son runs a Lego service, helping younger kids build their kits—what a way to learn responsibility! I genuinely believe that every kid should have a taste of the working world before heading off to college, and Brooks shares that sentiment.
4. Test Their Dates.
At first, I braced myself for some outdated notion of protecting daughters, but Brooks surprised me. He suggests that if a young man is willing to let his date drive on their first outing, that’s a sign of respect and independence. It’s a refreshing take that champions equality over overprotectiveness. Kudos to you, Garth!
5. Always Be Available.
This is where I diverge from Brooks. When I transitioned to being more present for my kids, I found myself constantly responding to their needs—whether it was delivering forgotten items to school or jumping at every call from the nurse. I learned the hard way that it’s essential to set boundaries. We’ve established rules about when it’s appropriate to call home, focusing on serious issues like fever or injury. Sometimes, kids need to figure things out on their own!
In the end, while we may not all find solace from empty nest syndrome through world tours, we can appreciate how even the biggest stars enjoy the little moments of parenthood—packing lunches, cheering at soccer games, and watching their kids grow.
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In summary, Garth Brooks may not be the typical parenting guru, but his insights are refreshingly practical. From setting consequences to letting kids learn from mistakes, his advice is worth considering.