Five Things I've Learned As A Parent

Parenting is perhaps the biggest challenge one will face in their life. There are tons of books on how to be a good parent. In fact, everyone seems to have advice about parenting; take it or leave. There are five things I've learned as a parent that are universal, and they start with the ABC's of parenting.

Lesson 1: A is key to success; avoid getting angry. Whether you're mad at yourself, your husband, loved one, or the sound of a newborn crying, try to not get out of control. Newborns can sense when you're upset, which makes them more fussy, and leads to more crying. Getting anger only makes matters worse.

Lesson 2: B is necessary if you want to keep your sanity; take a break. While it may not be possible to find a sitter or get away for a few hours, you can take a break. Find a quiet room to sit in by yourself or sit out on the patio for a half an hour. Just finding a space where you can clear your mind, and relax for a few minutes can be a refreshing relief when your a parent. If your kids are older take a trip to the park where they get to play and you can catch up on your reading or check your emails.

Lesson 3: C is fun and creates lasting memories; be creative. Funds are often tight when your a parent, so you need to be creative. Take a look around the house for items you can use for activities that are fun to do with the kids. Make a tent with a blanket and pretend your camping. Paper bags can become puppets or cut a few holes in it and it because a tunnel for cars. Leftover cardboard paper towel rolls can become musical instruments; just add a few coins or large beads and tape of the ends. The possibilities are endless, just use your imagination. A good resource for ideas is your local library.

Lesson 4: Capture special moments. Before digital cameras we went through many rolls of film on our kids. Now, you can take hundreds of pictures without the cost of developing, which makes it fun to take family pictures. Digital cameras do not cost as much nowadays, and make great gift for new parents. When taking photos try sorting them out as you go. If you start out sorting them it will be much easier to find specific photos in the future. And, the photos you do take can be used by the kids to make gifts for the family!

Lesson 5: All You Need Is Love, (And, a lot of laughter). It sounds sentimental, but it's true; love between parents and their children is a beautiful bond. To see their smile, or hear your child say I love you Mommy or Daddy just melts your heart. Children learn by example, and they are always listening whether we realize it or not. If they see you in a loving relationship with you spouse or partner they are more likely to have the same type of relationship in the future. The same is true for arguing and screaming. Just because your parents didn't give you hugs or tell you a bedtime stories doesn't mean you have to treat your children the same way. Enjoy every moment of your time with your children because someday they'll be out on their own and you'll be looking at all the pictures you took and wondering where the time together went.