I get to teach a parenting class. Oh yes, me! I was going to do it a long time ago when I was preggo but didn't have any people sign up. This is a class at a Christian based pregnancy center. (I'm not going to name the name just in case that is not allowed!). So this place is there to help you if you are pregnant, giving free pregnancy tests, counseling if you need it post abortion and it is pro-life. In other words if you go in and are pregnant they will talk to you about all the different choices you have, but will not advocate abortion. I am not even sure that they will tell you about abortion. I helped with a place like this when I was in college, and they would tell you the facts, and have you watch a video about abortion. But I am not sure how this place handles it.
Okay, so onto the rest of my story. The director called me last week and I have 3 people signed up for this class. I have some basic things that I will be talking about...and some tips that I have learned from now being a parent myself. I have to do things as simple as how to change a diaper, caring for the embelical cord, so on and so forth...and of course since I used to be a teacher, I am doing one class on early literacy for your child. :) I have to throw it in there...teaching in the public schools has shown me how much some parents do not know about teaching their children BEFORE they get to school. And if you are reading this, I am sure I am not talking about you, so please don't take offense! Some people do not know to read to their child, sing to their child, and talk to their child-pointing things out, counting so on and so forth from the time they are born to kindergarten.
Okay, I am getting off my soap box now.
There is a point to this post, I promise!
My question, and had I been thinking about it earlier, I would have posted it for my Aloha Friday post, but I spaced it so....
If you had one piece of good advice, or something that you learned once you became a parent that you didn't know before, that you could share with someone who is probably a teen mom what would it be?
Some of my own tidbits that I will be sharing are:
- Start putting your baby to sleep on their own from day one...instead of either nursing/feeding them or rocking/holding them to sleep. It will save you later in life! And you won't have to have them cry it out!
- Sleep when the baby sleeps if you can!
- Always do "back to sleep", but start doing belly time shortly after you bring them home...helping them with their muscle development.
- Make sure that you don't leave your baby in the tub even for a second...
- sponge bathing them until the umbelical cord comes off
If you have some other great advice I would love to hear it!
