5 Must Haves When Entering Parenthood

Parenthood is one of the most life-changing experiences a person can endure.  Indeed, reproduction is deeply woven into our basic human DNA, as it ensures our species survives and thrives. However, there are many important factors to consider before becoming a parent. Deciding to be a parent is a huge decision; hence, you must take several things into account to ensure your happiness and the success of your choice. Every parent doubts their parenting skills at some point in their children’s life. This self-doubt is why you need to learn a few things beforehand. 

You should always handle your children with great care and responsibility. Children tend to behave according to the relationship they have with their parents. Therefore, if you do not have a good relationship with your child, or if you lack communication, your child is most likely to have behavioral problems. Then at some point, he will stop listening to you. On the other hand, if you have a good relationship with your children, and you value their opinion, they start to trust you more.

5 Must Haves

Here are five things that you need to be sure about before you decide to enter parenthood:

Support

Parenting a child is not a one-person job. According to an old proverb, “it takes a village to raise a child.” Kids learn everything from people around them. Hence, a stable relationship and proper support from family and friends are essential. Parenthood makes your relationship with your partner stronger as you get to go through all the challenges together. Loving your child and raising him with your partner creates a special bond between you, your partner, and your children. Having a strong and supportive relationship with people around you can ease the hardships of parenthood and help you raise your child more effectively.

Self-Care

Just because you are a parent now, does not mean that you have to give up on all the things that you used to do for yourself. Parenting and raising a child demands a lot of time and energy, but it does not mean that you self-sacrifice for your child. If you are not in good condition, physically, mentally, or emotionally, it will only affect your child negatively. Self-care is vital, not just for your well-being, but also for the sake of your child. According to a study, self-care comes first, then comes your relationship, and consequently, your child. If you do not have a good relationship with your partner, it will negatively impact your child. Similarly, if you do not have a good relationship with your child, it could cause irreversible trauma, social anxieties, and a host of other disorders.

Bring yourself to your child’s mental level

There is a significant difference between children and adults. They are entirely different in the way they learn, think, interact, and react to certain things and situations. Parents need to keep up with the pace of their child’s development and learning. You can not treat a kid like an adult; neither can you expect him to act like an adult. Kids go through several phases, through-out their childhood and teenage years, and it does get exhausting sometimes. Despite all their tantrums, arguments, and stubbornness, as a parent, you are supposed to understand them and develop a trusting relationship with them. Kids expect their parents to be their trustworthy protectors. And, if your child feels like you do not know them well, it can cause several issues, such as a bad relationship between you and your child.

Establish some ground rules

You are supposed to love your child unconditionally. However, with any healthy relationship, we must set ground rules and boundaries with our children. If a child learns that his parents are easily manipulated or they do not enforce boundaries to keep him in check, it encourages that child to adopt some very bad habits that are tough to break. It is vital that parents set rules and make sure that the child follows them. Children should know that everything they do has consequences. They should know the difference between good and bad. Additionally, as a parent, you are responsible for their actions just as much as them, since you have to teach them what they should or shouldn’t do.  

Don’t be harsh

Harsh attitudes do not do anybody any good. Especially in case of your children, always treat them with kindness. Being too strict on your children can provoke them to rebel. As a result, your children stop listening to you and become stubborn.

Additionally, parents should never hit their children because it teaches them to be violent towards other people. Children who get hit or spanked by their parents tend to be more aggressive and use violence as the solution to every problem. There are different methods you can use to discipline your children, such as time-out, or grounding them for a day or two. These methods don’t involve aggression and also teach your children the lesson they need.

Thank you to our guest writer Jessica Howell for this amazing information!