The Challenges of The Challenges of ParentingParenting

Do Now: What are some Do Now: What are some characteristics of a good parent?characteristics of a good parent?

Parenting: A Learning Parenting: A Learning ProcessProcess

Parenting: caring for children and helping Parenting: caring for children and helping them grow and developthem grow and develop

Parents ShouldParents Should Have reasonable expectationsHave reasonable expectations Develop parenting skillsDevelop parenting skills

The Stages of ParenthoodThe Stages of Parenthood Image making (pregnancy)Image making (pregnancy) Nurturing (Becoming attached Birth-2)Nurturing (Becoming attached Birth-2) Authority (Determine rules 2-5)Authority (Determine rules 2-5) Interpretive (Deciding on values 5-13)Interpretive (Deciding on values 5-13) Interdependent (Adolescence; establish boundaries)Interdependent (Adolescence; establish boundaries) Departure (Child leaves home, empty feeling)Departure (Child leaves home, empty feeling)

The Changes that The Changes that Parenthood BringsParenthood Brings

New responsibilities and role conflictNew responsibilities and role conflict Changes in lifestyle (sometimes suddenly)Changes in lifestyle (sometimes suddenly) Emotional adjustments (stop being selfish)Emotional adjustments (stop being selfish) Changes in relationshipsChanges in relationships EmploymentEmployment IrreversibilityIrreversibility

Making Decisions About Making Decisions About ParenthoodParenthood

Emotional MaturityEmotional Maturity Desire for parenthood Desire for parenthood

A child cannot create miracles; A child cannot create miracles; saving of marriage, low self-saving of marriage, low self-esteem, attention issues, etc.esteem, attention issues, etc.

Health ConsiderationsHealth Considerations Financial Concerns (can you Financial Concerns (can you

afford a child)afford a child)

MOTHERHOODMOTHERHOODIntensive Mothering Ideology Intensive Mothering Ideology

What mothers ought to What mothers ought to provide:provide:

Full-time attentionFull-time attention Self-sacrificing devotionSelf-sacrificing devotion Expert guidedExpert guided Labor-intensive Labor-intensive

involvement with the childinvolvement with the child Child’s needs are more Child’s needs are more

pressing than those of pressing than those of mothersmothers

WHAT MOTHER COULD LIVE UP TO THIS EVEN IF SHE STAYED AT HOME.

WHAT IF SHE WORKED?

FATHERHOODFATHERHOOD Changes in sexual relations.Changes in sexual relations. Anxiety about abilities, baby, Anxiety about abilities, baby,

money.money. Witnessing birth is a positive Witnessing birth is a positive

bonding experience with child.bonding experience with child. ““Nurturing father” is able to Nurturing father” is able to

participate in all parenting participate in all parenting practices – child benefits.practices – child benefits.

Fatherhood is changing fast.Fatherhood is changing fast.

WHAT IT WHAT IT TAKES TO BE TAKES TO BE A FATHERA FATHER

Some Facts:Some Facts: ½ of all children will spend ½ of all children will spend

part of their childhood in a part of their childhood in a father absent home.father absent home.

32% of all children are born 32% of all children are born to unmarried women. to unmarried women. Among African American it Among African American it is 68%.is 68%.

Children raised in two-Children raised in two-parent families rarely parent families rarely experience poverty.experience poverty.

Data has linked growing up Data has linked growing up without a father to: without a father to: Under achievement in schoolUnder achievement in school Mental illnessMental illness Drug abuseDrug abuse Youth suicideYouth suicide DelinquencyDelinquency CrimeCrime

Parenting ActivityParenting Activity

Parenting LicenseParenting License Create Requirements (at least 10)Create Requirements (at least 10)

Income, age, home, car, education, etc.Income, age, home, car, education, etc.

Create a Test (at least 10 questions)Create a Test (at least 10 questions) What courses would you have parents to What courses would you have parents to

take? take?