Essential knowledge for parenting
1. Pregnancy
2. Birth
3. Childhood and Rearing
-Make sure to kick all addictions/chemical vices
-When you decide on the name, keep in mind the name is lifelong and will be used in professional settings.
-You will need to eat more, since you are eating for two
-You will have weird cravings, this is normal
-Make sure to get enough Folic Acid (about 400 mcg) daily. It can be found in fortified foods.
-Ask your doctor about pre-natal care.
-Make sure you are firm and clear with the doctors
-Make sure the baby is labeled immediately at birth. Memorize the label and any distinguishing features
-Hold off on circumcision, let the child decide later in life. Cleaning concerns are not as important in this era of daily showers.
-(POST BIRTH) Ensure you are being supervised post-birth, as you may suffer from Postpartum depression/psychosis
-(POST BIRTH) Try feeding from your breasts first before any formula ("Breast is Best!")
US Army TM 8-230 (Basic Nursing) (Pregnancy and Birth information on pg. 416)
-Remember the times your parents hurt you (mentally, emotionally, or physically), and learn from that.
-Read to the child to boost intelligence.
-Feed your child healthy homecooked food. Use meal-planning to save time. Make sure they get plenty of animal protein.
-Speak to the child positively to promote communication. Your child is like a sponge.
-Be understanding with your child.
-Believe the child when they say something. They cannot vocalize as well as an adult
-Ensure the child knows that being honest and open with you doesn't result in punishment. This will ensure the child is honest and open with you in the long term.
-Try to foster hobbies. They increase intelligence, creativity, morale, and can result in a career.
-Let them play and have fun. Playing is scientifically proven to help with brain development.
-Do not give away their property. This will cause distrust and possible hoarding behaviors.
-Try to treat the child's property as their own, especially when they get older.
-Do not try to foster competition through comparisons. It will create destructive conflict and loss of self-esteem.
-Do not try to "toughen them up" through malicious actions.
-Uprooting your child unexpectedly may cause trauma, especially if they have friends in the area where they live now.
-You are not in competition with your child. Conversely, your child's accomplishments aren't going to replace your failures.
-Do not leave them alone with a tablet for long times ("Ipad baby"). This will result in ADHD-like symptoms and emotional stunting. Instead, try to teach them computer skills and internet literacy.
-Physical discipline doesn't work, and can result in emotional stunting, trauma, and a full disconnect from you.
-Avoid neglectful, authoritarian, or helicopter parenting.
-Let your children have some privacy. If you can, give them a room each (if you don't have enough rooms, split rooms with a thick curtain).
-When they hit puberty, they will be curious about sexuality and have new desires and feelings. Be understanding and empathetic with them.
-Puberty also creates rebellious tendencies. It's not their fault, they are dealing with new hormones.
-Remember, they will treat you when you need their help, the same way you treated them when they needed help.
-Let your child make friends. This will create social skills, which is essential in school, workplaces, and making a family.
-Recognize that as your child grows, they will seek and require more freedom.
-No child's happiness is worth sacrificing for any "honor"
-Don't share your child's secrets, even with your closet friends
-Ensure that your child knows that there's nothing wrong with being picked up early. This will ensure that they don't stay in dangerous situations.
-Look up the poison hotline in your area.
-Property can be replaced, a child's love cannot.
-Cherish the time you have with them.
-Teach your child on "Stranger Danger".
-Give your child a personal alarm, and instruct them on its use.
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