Parenting is difficult. If you are a parent you know that. If you have ever seen a parent struggling with a fussy toddler in the store you know that. We live in an age of information, and an age where getting and giving information is very easy. There are books about parenting, shows about parenting, websites about parenting, magazines, about parenting, and so on.
. My tactic has been to listen to, read, and watch everything. Ingest, digest, sort, decide. Relatives will give you “advice”, other parents will give you advice, strangers who see you with that struggling toddler will give you advice (some times it’s a bit more than advice), especially if you’re a new parent, or you’re a young parent. Advice is prolific, abundant, and overwhelming at times. It can be so stressful when this advice comes in, whether it’s given in a loving manner or not. Thoughts like, “Am I doing this all wrong? Am I a bad parent? Is my child going to need therapy?” will surely go through your head. They have gone through mine, daily, some days hourly. And the advice can be so conflicting. Spank or not to spank. Enforce strict sleeping schedule, or simply wing it. Pacifier or no, bottle or breast, co sleeping or independent sleeping, the list goes on and on. And the older your child gets the more choices you will have to make about how things will be done and taught. Parenting is very difficult. But here is my one piece of advice;
Know your child.
Know your child.
My father-in-law said something that I have taken to heart and believe in and that’s to be a student of you child. Know your child; every child is different because though they are young and still developing, they are people. And every person is different. Know your child and each of your children and you will be able to answer each of these questions individually and personally for your child. Listen to all the advice that is given, take some, and throw the rest out the window because no one knows your children like you, and of course God their Creator. God has entrusted them into your care and if you seek Him in every step He will guide you.