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An estimated 1-2 million kids run away each year in an attempt to escape the harsh realities of home. What if zero kids ran away? What if all kids felt loved and wanted?
I created this ideal world in Licensed to Rear. Children, who are often vulnerable and helpless, have a higher chance of growing up happy and loved in a nation with a law requiring that would-be parents earn a parental license. Given the time and energy it takes to earn a parenting license, it is less likely parents would act negligently toward their own children. In short, earning a parental license gives kids a greater chance of enjoying a good, happy, carefree childhood.
I encourage parents and would-be parents to pick up Licensed to Rear and give it a shot. The story explores a world unlike the one in which we live. It is an idealistic world that offers pointers for our real world that benefit all of society.
Granted, earning a license to parent is not the answer that solves all problems, just as earning a driver’s license does not prevent all bad drivers from hitting the road. However, the odds improve for children when the role of parenting is not taken for granted.
In the book, I explore how parenting is not a right but a privilege. Rights and privileges differ in that rights can be taken away when they are abused. The antagonist in the story, Peter Losor, challenges this concept in a very comical way.
Readers hungry for a stimulating, intellectual read will find as much satisfaction in reading both sides of the argument—being for or against the law requiring a parental license—as I had in writing them.
Mila Winston aspires to earn a professional license to practice parenthood. It’s all she needs to start her family in the happiest micronation on Earth. Newcomers flock to Coolbeensia to fulfill their dreams of raising children here, where kids are guaranteed loving—as opposed to horrible—parents.
But mighty obstacles test Mila’s grit. Peter Losor, a chap with an annoying air of bravado, questionable parenting skills, and a defiant personality, stirs up trouble, eventually challenging the very law that defines Coolbeensia—that licensure is mandatory to enjoy the privilege of raising children.
Will Mila survive her trying ordeal and achieve her ambitions of being a licensed parent in the quirky yet revolutionary micronation? Find out in this satirical, contemporary family fiction novel that will leave you second-guessing the ideals surrounding the prestigious job of parenthood!
Enjoy an Excerpt
Mila ran to the side of the bed and plucked a glossy brochure off the nightstand. It had been folded and curled to reveal a particular page, as if waiting to be pointed out. “See?” She set her slender index finger on a small ad at the bottom of page nineteen. “I think we should move here.”
“Coolbeensia? Huh, an odd name.” Jason looked off into the distance. “But I think I’ve heard of it before. Isn’t that the place where you need a license to have children?”
Mila smiled, nodding emphatically. He’d heard of it, which eliminated the first hurdle and pushed them one step closer in the right direction. “Yep, it’s perfect.”
“How’re we going to get a license to raise a family?” His shoulders inched up. “It’s unheard of.”
“But brilliant.” Mila patted her husband on the arm. Naturally, he showed concern, as they’d discussed having children long before they officially tied the knot. Having a full house was important to them both. Children would complete their family, plus a furry pet or two, besides the giant stuffed bear.
“It’s no biggie. It’s just like earning a license to drive. You’ve done it before, and so have I. We’ll be assured that we’re surrounded by qualified parents who know how to keep their kids safe. Isn’t that like what a driver’s license is for?” She gazed at him, hoping her brief but logical answer would convince him.
About the Author Riya Aarini entered her small part of the world one summer day in the Pacific Northwest. She writes in an eclectic mix of genres, including humor and contemporary fiction. If you enjoy quirkiness with a pinch of whimsy, you’ll have an appetite for her books.
Licensed to Rear is available everywhere books are sold, including Amazon.
