Читать книгу Sister Lilian’s Babycare Companion: Complimentary and traditional care - Lilian Paramor - Страница 4

Author’s Introduction

Parenthood can seem a daunting prospect. You may feel a little apprehensive about becoming a parent; after all, there’s no going back once you have brought a new little being into the world. Looking on the bright side more often, however, and taking more time to delight in the many positive moments of parenting, will all make it seem a lot less challenging. We live in a time of great change. Society has undergone a radical transformation, and situations and attitudes are no longer the same as they were in our parents’ day. Consider just some of these developments:

•The need for both parents to work outside the home

•The lack of immediate support to hand

•The many external influences to which our children are subject because we no longer live in close-knit communities

•The discipline dilemmas of an age when rigid authoritarianism is frowned upon, yet liberalism seems to backfire.

All this sounds terribly theoretical, but what it boils down to is parents being confronted on a daily basis with worries, concerns and workloads that are often beyond the reasonable ability of any person. What do you do if your little one is ill and the crèche doesn’t take sick children, or you have a pressing work engagement and granny is in another city? How do you react if you are a single parent and the other parent assumes ‘Father Christmas’ status, leaving you with a discipline problem after every visit? Will you ever survive the broken nights and the pressure the clinic sister, your mom and mom-in-law are putting on you to get your child sleeping through in his or her own room? Is there even the remotest chance that you will have any semblance of a good relationship with your partner ever again?

In the face of such an overwhelmingly challenging landscape, there is only one solution: to come up with creative, lateral thinking, innovative and sometimes downright old-fashioned ideas. If you, Mom and Dad, are willing to do this, I can assure you that the process will become a great deal less painful, and simultaneously the happiness that follows will fuel your energy levels and remain with you as a legacy of joy and an abundant source of wonderful memories of this special phase in your life.

So, don’t wish the young years past, and don’t try to sidestep every possible nuance of parenting. Instead, remind yourself of the many, many others who have survived the experience. Follow the advice suggested in this guide, to help you deal happily with parenting challenges, from babyhood until well into the toddler years.

Sister Lilian