Parenting pressures-How best to handle them.

Everything about parenting will bring pressures especially when other people are involved. Everyone loves to have an opinion and they will not mind sharing it even when you have not asked for it. Parenting is difficult and here are a few of parenting pressures you may face and how to deal with them.

Do-do, bottle, potty training and walking/crawling- Some people will tell you not to give your kid a do-do and while they may be right try telling that to a screaming child. When your nipper gets older you may have comments regarding their age and having a do-do (did you see the uproar over David Beckhams daughter last year?) It was ridiculous and if anything, having children in the limelight is harder for parents then having normal kids like ourselves. People will tell you when to potty train and wonder why your kid isn’t walking yet! Ignoring people is usually the best course of actions or telling them politely that your child will do all these things in time. As a parent, you know what is best for them and you will recognise if your kiddie is lagging but that is for you to deal with and not have others making blatant comments.

Not spending enough time with your kids- Damned if you do, damned if you don’t is a thing most parents face.  If you work long hours you provide your kids with a good lifestyle but if you don’t you could run into financial difficulty but young kids will never fully understand this. Leaving an upset child while you go to work is the hardest pressure of all, it may take time for your kid to adjust but explaining as well as you can to a nipper is vital. Ignore the know it all’s or the ones who say you should stay at home with the kids. They don’t know you or your situation.

Let the kids free- When your children get older they will pressure you to let them walk home, go out on their own and even go to events without you. In most cases the kids will pressure you telling you that “all their pals do it” and while this may be true you should hold your ground in giving your child’s some freedom and take baby steps till you are fully comfortable leaving them to go out alone.

Not having enough time- If you asked any parent one of their biggest woes is never having enough time and feeling pressured because of this. The truth is it never gets any easier but there are ways you can better deal with your time restraints. Plan, make the most of the little time you have with the kids and look after yourself too as a well-rested and relaxed parent is a better parent to their kids.

“I would do this”- You may ask advice of family throughout the years while raising your family and that is entirely normal but take little heed of what they think they would do. People will always say they would do this or that but would they really in the cold light of day? Seek advice but remember the decision rests on you and your family relies on your decisions to make their life as good as possible.

Pressures will never go away but you can still be a great parent.