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Chapter 1 Parenting: A Rewarding Choice 21
Parenting is not fun all the time, but
many parents have lots of fun as they raise
their children. An important influence is a
person’s attitude toward parenting. Keeping
a sense of humor can help parents through
difficult times. Overall, many people
genuinely enjoy being parents.
Myth #5:
Children are always cute and sweet.
Many people daydream about having
a baby. They look forward to holding a
sweet, cuddly bundle of joy. It is not as easy
to anticipate times when babies are not so
cute and sweet. The reality is that babies
also cry, scream, and squirm, 1-7. They are
sick and unhappy at times. Parents must
be able to handle the noise and mess babies
create. Toddlers can be downright stubborn.
It can be a big adjustment if parents have
unrealistic expectations about what babies
and toddlers are really like. While children
can be adorable, parents should be prepared
to accept reality.
Even the cutest and sweetest babies grow
quickly into school-age children and teens.
Older children can be just as enjoyable, if not
more so, than babies. However, some parents
are not ready to handle older children’s
needs and demands. They may not find
older children as cute and sweet as babies.
Babies cannot start an argument or run all
over the house. People will be disappointed
if they become parents simply to care for
cuddly babies. Parents who look forward to
all the stages of growth are more prepared
for the realities of parenting. They will find
satisfaction throughout their lives as parents,
not just during the first few years.
The Responsibilities of
Parenting
Every job has its responsibilities, and
parenting is no different. Just like most
jobs, parenting is complicated. It has basic
requirements in caring for children. In
addition, parenting involves complex tasks
in figuring out the best way to help children
grow and develop based on parents’ values
and what is known about competent
parenting. Parents cannot know in advance
all the parenting duties they will have, but
several are common to all parents. The
following duties are the main responsibilities
of parenting.
Wanting and Being Ready for
Children
A parent’s first responsibility is deciding
if he or she wants children and is ready to
have them. People should think carefully
about whether they really want children and
are ready to be parents. Every child deserves
proper care and guidance. Making rational
decisions about parenting is best for adults
and children.
Becoming a good parent also means
recognizing when it is not the right time to
start (or add to) a family. Family planning
decisions are described more fully in later
chapters.
1-7 Although babies are generally cute and sweet,
the reality is they also cry, squirm, and scream.