Questions to parents out there?

[geneswellness]

Hello fellow genetics enthusiasts and parents,

I've been contemplating the creation of a comprehensive genetic resource specifically tailored for parents and soon-to-be parents. The idea is to provide accessible, easy-to-understand information on various genetic topics relevant to family planning and child development.

The resource would cover areas such as:

1. Genetic screening for prospective parents
2. Basic genetic concepts to help understand the risks of various genetic diseases
3. Management strategies for genetic conditions
4. Genetic factors influencing child growth and development

My question to the community, especially parents or those planning to become parents, is this: Would you be interested in detailed, yet simplified guides on these topics? 

Specifically:
- What genetic topics are you most curious about as a parent?
- Would you find value in having this information compiled in an easy-to-understand format?
- What format would you prefer for such guides (e.g., e-books, interactive websites, video series)?
- What price point would you consider reasonable for such resources?

Your feedback would be invaluable in shaping this potential resource. Let's discuss the intersection of genetics and parenting, and how we can make this complex field more accessible to those who need it most.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences!

[exchemist]

50 minutes ago, geneswellness said:

Hello fellow genetics enthusiasts and parents,

I've been contemplating the creation of a comprehensive genetic resource specifically tailored for parents and soon-to-be parents. The idea is to provide accessible, easy-to-understand information on various genetic topics relevant to family planning and child development.

The resource would cover areas such as:

1. Genetic screening for prospective parents
2. Basic genetic concepts to help understand the risks of various genetic diseases
3. Management strategies for genetic conditions
4. Genetic factors influencing child growth and development

My question to the community, especially parents or those planning to become parents, is this: Would you be interested in detailed, yet simplified guides on these topics? 

Specifically:
- What genetic topics are you most curious about as a parent?
- Would you find value in having this information compiled in an easy-to-understand format?
- What format would you prefer for such guides (e.g., e-books, interactive websites, video series)?
- What price point would you consider reasonable for such resources?

Your feedback would be invaluable in shaping this potential resource. Let's discuss the intersection of genetics and parenting, and how we can make this complex field more accessible to those who need it most.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences!

I would put this in the general category of: "Let's give parents something else to be pointlessly anxious about". On the whole, if there is nothing wrong with your child, I think you should not spend your time poring over genetics. If there is something wrong, or you yourself have a known genetic condition that might be passed on, then you should be in contact with health professionals.

 

 

[Sarae.the.wannabe.chemist]

On 7/20/2024 at 6:18 AM, exchemist said:

"Let's give parents something else to be pointlessly anxious about". On the whole, if there is nothing wrong with your child, I think you should not spend your time poring over genetics.

Well, it might not be pointless to know. Sometimes genetic malfunctions happen later in life after birth. It would be great to know something basic about genetics so that you could do better at helping your child find the right resources without wasting time and/or money. Health professionals also do appreciate being given more information than having to figure it out themselves, which is, again pretty pricey.

[exchemist]

37 minutes ago, Sarae.the.wannabe.chemist said:

Well, it might not be pointless to know. Sometimes genetic malfunctions happen later in life after birth. It would be great to know something basic about genetics so that you could do better at helping your child find the right resources without wasting time and/or money. Health professionals also do appreciate being given more information than having to figure it out themselves, which is, again pretty pricey.

Well I just gave my personal opinion as a parent. There is already so much one can worry about with a child. My experience has been that most of the things one frets over resolve themselves. It is all too easy to overthink parenthood and thereby diminish the pleasure. Children should be allowed to be unique individuals without parents worrying about where in the genes some feature, or facet of behaviour, may come from. They are not laboratory rats. If there is really something wrong with your child you will know and can seek professional advice at that point.  What was it James Bond said? “Anxiety is a dividend paid to disaster before it is due.” Personally, I would not volunteer for another source of anxiety. But others may feel differently.

[Sarae.the.wannabe.chemist]

35 minutes ago, exchemist said:

Children should be allowed to be unique individuals without parents worrying about where in the genes some feature, or facet of behaviour, may come from. They are not laboratory rats. If there is really something wrong with your child you will know and can seek professional advice at that point.  

I get it now. I may have misinterpreted your comment because when I read it, it seemed like you were dismissing their dream or discouraging them from adding whatever value they were trying to add to parenthood. Again, these were my previous misconceptions. 

[exchemist]

26 minutes ago, Sarae.the.wannabe.chemist said:

I get it now. I may have misinterpreted your comment because when I read it, it seemed like you were dismissing their dream or discouraging them from adding whatever value they were trying to add to parenthood. Again, these were my previous misconceptions. 

Some may have a different view from me. But looking at similarly highly educated parents, for example at my son's school, I felt a lot of them were constantly worrying, whether it was about academic results, or physical aptitudes, or psychological things and trying to micromanage how their children developed - and that a lot of it was quite outside their control because the child is who he or she is anyway! (I'm the eldest of five and my mother was a teacher, so I'm used to a fairly robust attitude to these things.) Some people have books and books on child-rearing. We had a couple (I was given a very amusing one for dads, written by the publishers of a well-known UK brand of car maintenance manuals: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Baby-Manual-Conception-Haynes-Workshop/dp/1844257592 )

So my kneejerk reaction was: "What? Not yet another dimension of things to worry about, pointlessly!"   

I'm going to Scotland to see him tomorrow - his final term at university. I can hardly believe it.🙂 

[Sarae.the.wannabe.chemist]

Right. I'm actually very interested in child development and how they work psychologically as well as figuring them out based on personalities-because we're not robots. The reason is because I'm quite misunderstood and it seems like people raise kids for all the wrong reasons or are just terribly irresponsible. I am a result of both things. This resource seemed like a really great way for adults in our generation to learn a little about kids, even if it was genetics. Some may overthink, some may need it. Nonetheless, it's an awesome resource and idea. Micromanaging development like you can control it is delusional to say the least, but making sure your kid is cared for in every way you can is loving. I wish my parents cared that much about me, but I guess it was God's way of implanting the desire for parenthood to be as enjoyable and easyas possible, even with all the bumps in the road. Apologies for the completely off-topic rant.

16 minutes ago, exchemist said:

I'm going to Scotland to see him tomorrow - his final term at university. I can hardly believe it.🙂 

Aww! How sweet. What is he getting a degree in? I hope he's very successful and makes our world a tad bit better! 💜

[exchemist]

58 minutes ago, Sarae.the.wannabe.chemist said:

Right. I'm actually very interested in child development and how they work psychologically as well as figuring them out based on personalities-because we're not robots. The reason is because I'm quite misunderstood and it seems like people raise kids for all the wrong reasons or are just terribly irresponsible. I am a result of both things. This resource seemed like a really great way for adults in our generation to learn a little about kids, even if it was genetics. Some may overthink, some may need it. Nonetheless, it's an awesome resource and idea. Micromanaging development like you can control it is delusional to say the least, but making sure your kid is cared for in every way you can is loving. I wish my parents cared that much about me, but I guess it was God's way of implanting the desire for parenthood to be as enjoyable and easyas possible, even with all the bumps in the road. Apologies for the completely off-topic rant.

Aww! How sweet. What is he getting a degree in? I hope he's very successful and makes our world a tad bit better! 💜

Ancient History and Archaeology. He takes after my father, not me or my wife (who was a mathematical engineer).  

[Sarae.the.wannabe.chemist]

Ha! Funny how kids work. You sound like a family of dreamers. My kind of people!

[LuckyR]

Genetics (of your children) is best addressed at the point of spouse selection, not afterwards.