Parenting is one of those jobs that most of us don’t have a clue about until we have our first child.  Somehow we feel that we will know what to do “naturally.” In some ways this may be true,  but in others, it is absolutely false.  Some mothers, for example, take to breast feeding quite easily.  Others have to be taught about getting the baby “latched on” the right way.  Others yet just choose to bottle-feed.

Just as there are many ways to feed, so there are many ways to raise a child and to be a parent.   Parenting styles differ and  parents are all different personalities.  Even the best parents make mistakes and we’re not as patient, understanding, and tolerant as we sometimes might like to be.  Some of us have gentle ways and some of us are demanding.   As I look back at my parenting, I regret that I  didn’t consciously go about learning skills on how to be a good parent before my child was born.

Scientific American Mind, had an article called “What Makes A Good Parent,” by well-known psychologist, Robert Epstein,  in its November, 2010 issue.  Here are 10 essential parenting skills listed in that article.  It may be helpful to new parents on the look-out for information.

• Love and affection.  “You support and accept the child, are physically affectionate, and spend quality one-on-one time together.”
• Stress Management.  “You take steps to reduce stress for yourself and your child, practice relaxation techniques, and promote positive interpretations of events.”
• Relationship skills.  “You maintain a healthy relationship with your spouse, significant o ther, or co-parent and model effective relationship skills with others.”
• Autonomy and Independence.  “You treat your child with respect and encourage him or her to become self-sufficient and self-reliant.”
• Education and learning.  “You promote and model learning and provide educational opportunities for your child.”
• Life skills.  “You provide for your child, have a steady income, and plan for the future.”
• Behavior management.  “You make extensive use of positive reinforcement and punish only when other methods of managing behavior have failed.”
  
• Health.  “You model a healthy lifestyle and good habits, such as regular exercise and proper nutrition.”
• Religion.  “You support spiritual or religious development and participate in spiritual or religious activities.”
• Safety.  “You take precautions to protect your child and maintain awareness of the child’s activities and friends.”

It’s a good list that covers many important aspects of life and learning and since I’m not a parenting authority, I thought it would be a good addition to this post.  Below are ten quotes on parenting that, in my opinion, are the best ones.