Whether your expecting or already a parent your relationship status changes how you might experience parenthood. From pregnancy to parenthood I have experienced them all; Married, unmarried and single. Because of this I can relate to many situations. Here is my view of relationships and parenthood:
Married
You might have just tied the knot or maybe you have been married for years, but your twosome is about to grow by one (or more). It's an exciting time in your life as well as a nerve-wracking one, this is the time to lean on your partner for love and support. Mothers and fathers should both educate themselves on whats ahead. Be prepared for disagreements, bringing a child into the world can disrupt even the most stable of marriages. Discuss the big decisions early so you are aware of each others opinions, you don't want to wait to find out you don't see eye to eye just to feel rushed and upset trying to make a decision.
Unmarried
You are in a relationship with your child's other parent or with the person who is going to act in place of the other parent. Just as with a married couple, you should lean on your partner for love and support. Depending on the length and strength of your relationship a child, while always a blessing, can add strain to your relationship. Be clear from the start on how involved you plan to be as well as how involved you want and expect your partner to be so there are no surprises down the line. Again, discuss big decisions early to avoid last minute rushed decisions.
Single
You are going at this partly or fully alone. The first step is to discuss with your child's other parent how involved they want to be and how involved you want them to be. When the other parent will be involved you need to find for yourselves if that will be enough emotional support for you, in most cases it is not. When the other parent won't be involved or they won't provide enough emotional support then you need to find your source of support, whether it be your family, friends or a support group. You will lean on these people throughout your journey. The benefits of going at this without a partner is that the big decisions are yours alone, no need to discuss them with anyone. But you may find this overwhelming at times, that is when you look to whoever you enlisted for your emotional support.
No matter what your relationship status may be, parenthood is an amazing journey that should be shared with someone. Find that support system and enjoy the ride.
November 12, 2012
November 9, 2012
Lesson One
Whether your a mother to be, a father to be or just someone interested in parenthood in general, welcome! I hope my journey enlightens, brightens and encourages you in your journey as well. My goal is to document the process of my pregnancy and raising two children so I may share the details to help you better understand whats ahead of you as a parent to be.
As the title of my blog suggests, this isn't my first time around the block. I already have a loving, although be it stressful, 6 year old little boy. That journey still continues, but I have a new outlook as a parent for this second round because I have learned from common mistakes and am ready to apply that knowledge to this pregnancy and child. Even with my acquired knowledge, I know there is still much to learn. Which brings us to the first part of lesson number one in parenthood: You are never ready to be a parent.
Did I scare you? I hope not. Don't get me wrong, I am sure you are going to be an excellent parent. My point is that no matter how well you prepare, you will encounter something along the way in which you have no idea how to handle. Parenthood is a lot of instinct as well as trial and error. Things that occur with some children may never occur with yours, just as your child may be a first in others. You just have to trust your instincts in these situations and do the best you can. That is the second part of lesson number one: Do the best you can.
I am here to help prepare you as much as is humanly possible, then it's up to you to trust your knowledge and instincts to guide you through. It's a tough job but the most rewarding of all. I hope you continue with me along the way, if not only to gather knowledge but to get a few laughs as well.
As the title of my blog suggests, this isn't my first time around the block. I already have a loving, although be it stressful, 6 year old little boy. That journey still continues, but I have a new outlook as a parent for this second round because I have learned from common mistakes and am ready to apply that knowledge to this pregnancy and child. Even with my acquired knowledge, I know there is still much to learn. Which brings us to the first part of lesson number one in parenthood: You are never ready to be a parent.
Did I scare you? I hope not. Don't get me wrong, I am sure you are going to be an excellent parent. My point is that no matter how well you prepare, you will encounter something along the way in which you have no idea how to handle. Parenthood is a lot of instinct as well as trial and error. Things that occur with some children may never occur with yours, just as your child may be a first in others. You just have to trust your instincts in these situations and do the best you can. That is the second part of lesson number one: Do the best you can.
I am here to help prepare you as much as is humanly possible, then it's up to you to trust your knowledge and instincts to guide you through. It's a tough job but the most rewarding of all. I hope you continue with me along the way, if not only to gather knowledge but to get a few laughs as well.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)