Today is National Single Parent Day, and there’s a list online of “unpopular parenting opinions” that people stand by, no matter what anyone says. Because single parents DON’T HAVE TIME for your thoughts. Here are the highlights:

1. Kids not yet in high school don’t need to have smartphones.
2. It’s okay to negotiate with your kids. (Unless they’re terrorists.)
3. Time does not always go “too fast.” The newborn stage doesn’t go by fast enough. Don’t kid yourself: We are all miserable during this stage.
4. Doing everything for your child is doing them a huge disservice. Let them make mistakes, and learn to fend for themselves, socially and emotionally.
5. If it’s not a school night, kids can stay up late if they want, as long as they’re quiet and not making a mess.
6. Don’t tell children they can be literally ANYTHING. Just teach them to work hard and develop their talents and interests.
7. Parents should not be their children’s “friends.”
8. Talk to kids about tough topics like death, sex, and money. (In an age-appropriate way, of course.)
9. Let your kids eat junk food from time to time.
10. Parents need to care more about academics. Pressuring your kid to be perfect is wrong, but too many parents don’t car enough or AT ALL, and if your kid is blowing off school, they’re just making their lives more difficult.
11. Don’t praise kids for small tasks.
12. Accept that you can’t always keep your kids happy. Even as adults, doing things you need to, but don’t like to, builds resilience and responsibility.
13. Kids need to be told “no.”
14. Kids need to do chores. It’s a duty and obligation.
15. As parents, we should allow children to be bored sometimes, even if it means a three-hour car ride with no electronics.