16 Part 1 Decisions About Parenting
qualified to handle a given job. These include
the individual’s personal qualities, knowledge
of the subject, and past experience.
Personal Qualities
Personal qualities are most important
because parenting duties mainly involve
interactions with the child. Parents also
interact with their child’s friends and with
other adults, such as teachers, on behalf of
their child.
Parenting demands a special maturity—a
person who is willing to put his or her needs
after the child’s. Because social maturity
usually blooms in the young-adult years,
teen parents are at high risk for finding
parenthood overwhelming. Although parents
should find time to meet their needs as
individuals and couples, children’s needs
must never be neglected. The following
personal qualities are part of the special
maturity needed for parenting.
Nurturance
Nurturance means loving care and
attention. To nurture children is to love, teach,
and guide them. From the very beginning of
their lives, infants need to be assured they
are surrounded by love. Infants feel love
through the parents’ touch, tone of voice, and
facial expressions. Holding children close
and soothing them also conveys love. Parents
need to continue to love and nurture their
children even into adulthood.
A parent is a child’s first and most
important teacher. Having realistic
expectations, or knowledge of developmental
skills children have at a certain age,
helps parents provide an atmosphere for
growth and learning. Nurturance involves
challenging children to do their best at
developing skills appropriate for their
age. Through help and encouragement
from parents, children gradually develop
important physical, intellectual, emotional,
and social skills.
Above all, nurturance involves giving
unconditional love to children. This type
of love sets no conditions or boundaries.
Children need to know that parents love
them even when they make mistakes,
disobey, or fail to live up to what parents
expect. If you choose to parent, your children
will need to know they can always count on
your love. Never, under any circumstances,
use love as a reward or threat. Do not tell
children you will love them more for eating
their vegetables, or less for getting bad
grades. Parents should give their children
constant love in large doses, 1-2.
Dedication
Parenting demands dedication, or a
deep level of continued commitment. It is
a 24-hour-a-day, everyday job. When you
become a parent, you must devote yourself to
your new role. You can’t punch a time card
and go off duty. If your baby needs to be fed
or changed, it is your job to see those needs
Full-time position available for mature
individual. Job requires nurturance,
dedication, and flexibility. Must be willing to
work seven, 24-hour shifts per week. No
experience required, but child development
knowledge is a definite plus. Responsibilities
include: changing diapers, fixing meals,
cleaning up messes, and answering
questions, as well as teaching, loving, and
guiding a child from infancy to adulthood. A
minimum 18-year commitment is required.
Salary: You pay thousands.
Fringe benefits: Excellent, including the
opportunity to hear a child’s first words, help
a child learn to ride a bicycle, and watch with
pride as your grown-up son or daughter
receives a college diploma.
For application, contact:
The Stork Company
WANTED: PARENT
1-1 Does this sound like the job for you?
Parenting is hard work, but it has many rewards.