Preparing for Parenthood
There is no one right pathway for parents. There is no simple formula for being a good parent and having a happy, healthy child.
But….. two parents who are willing to take the time and make an effort to understand themselves and each other, get on the same page as to what is important to them as parents, and move forward together have the very best chance of a thriving family.
With your first child, there are many practical aspects to think about: what sort of nappies you will use, how will you feed your baby, division of labour, will you use a dummy, where will the baby sleep… and this is just the beginning. What most couples don’t realise is that if you aren’t in agreement about some of these issues, it may cause stress and damage to your relationship. Feeling very differently about aspects of parenting can have a massive impact on your relationship with each other.
The practical aspects are just the beginning. Thinking about things like discipline, language used, routines, who cares for the child, your hopes and dreams for the child, what you think your role as parents is……(and many more)……… These are huge factors that are ever present in your life as a family and if you can explore these openly and manage to find a place where you are both happy with your values, thoughts and plans, then you have the very best chance of sustaining a thriving relationship and having a happy household.
It is often much easier and healthier to get some external help when trying to figure all of this out. Preparing for parenthood sessions help you learn the practical things needed for a newborn (changing nappies, burping, swaddling, bathing etc) and also addresses your thoughts and feelings about being a parent. We address things like;
Acknowledging and understanding how you were raised; what you would like to carry on, and what you would like to change in your time as a parent.
How your parents made you feel
What your values are and how you would like to live in alignment with those within the family.
What you believe the role of each parent is.
How you feel about different forms of discipline and setting boundaries.
How you feel about different gender roles for your children.
How you want to deal with your child when things go wrong.
What sort of example you would like to set for your child.
Being brave enough to explore these things and be honest with yourself and your partner means going into parenthood as aware and open as you can be. Having parents that brave is a great start to a child’s life. It shows that you love them and want the best for them, and acknowledge that by being open, vulnerable and trusting your partner with this honesty, you have the best chance of a loving, thriving family.