3 tips for new parents to help you lessen guilt
Tip 1 – Stop chatting with everyone
Everyone has parenting advice – even people who have never had kids!
You start getting this mostly-unsolicited advice when you are pregnant because unless you never look pregnant, you are a target for child rearing advice.
t’s part of the human psyche to offer advice to pregnant women – and it’s been done since way back when.
Here’s the way it usually goes:
h, you’re pregnant. That’s great. I know a good pediatrician – her name is…or there are such good new toys for newborns – you can get them at… or have you heard about the new music to play while you are pregnant – it will make your child a genius – and by the way – do you know if you’re having a girl or a boy?
You almost can’t avoid this onslaught of advice – so best to be polite and say “thank you” – but do not engage in the conversation.
[This onslaught continues if you have a baby or toddler with you so practice now.]
If you engage – you are caught for a long chat about babies!
Tip 2 stop reading every book or magazine you find on parenting
Google “books on parenting advice” and you will find 1000’s of sites! You cannot read them all – even in several lifetimes. Don’t even try.
Tip 3 trust yourself
Stop and ask yourself who will be raising your baby? The people with advice? The books?
- Who will responsible for making the moment-to-moment decisions?
- Who will feed?
- Who will diaper?
- Who will play with?