This coming January 2008, I am expecting my very first baby. I am so excited that I just can’t sleep. My wife and I decided not to know the gender of the child so that it would be a big surprise. I always asked myself if I am ready to become a daddy. When I attended some parenting sessions, I learned a lot about being a good father. When my child comes into this world, I will devote myself to him and work hard for his or her future. I will definitely make him realize how cruel life can be and I will prepare him to take on the challenge of life step by step. My presence is a big factor as he or she grows up. I will be around when he or she needs me. Being a dad may take a lot of responsibility but I managed to answer my question if I am ready for the challenge and the answer is yes. I am ready.

A woman goes through a lot of hardships during pregnancy. It just made me realize how thankful I am to be a man. I admire women for the strength they display in carrying a baby in their womb for 9 months and doing their best to nourish and protect the child inside. From time to time, they experience heart burn, nose bleeds, morning sickness and a lot of mood swings. A woman’s body is indeed very mysterious and yet it seems so fragile and elegant at the same time. Carrying a baby for 9 months is not a small feat. It requires a lot of discipline and responsibility else, the baby’s life may be in extreme danger. This is how majestic a woman is, they can carry life while living their own lives.

Working and parenting are two different aspects that a parent must learn to separate. Once a parent considers parenting a job then they might as well think of getting something in return which is wrong. Parenting means taking good care of your son or daughter in such a way that they would become responsible individuals. It is understandable as well that it is the parents duty to have a job and earn money to buy their everyday needs. However, the stress of the job must not be brought home. The home should be considered different from the office. If they are at home, then they should not worry about problems and should just concentrate on parenting. Parenting could be a very tedious job but it is also worth all the effort when you see your child growing healthy, responsible and intelligent.

Three out of four parents under 25 find themselves smacking their children as a form of discipline. While there isn’t really much of an issue in smacking, it’s the way of parents who do the act becomes a concern. Researchers, headed by Canterbury University Associate Professor Lianne Woodward learns that 12% of this result goes to abusive physical treatment towards children.

Family and social backgrounds may contribute to parents’ behavior in treating their kids. When they have more children, more job and financial stress, and unhealthy parenting influence, it is more likely that parents would not treat their kids the right way.

Woodward contended, "The more difficulties and challenges parents have … and the fewer personal and social resources … the harder it is going to be for them to parent in a positive way."

Read more about this study in:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4324022a11.html

Just because parents who are tormented because of divorce don’t mean that they no longer fulfill the roles of being parents.

A recent study conducted by Sociology Professor Lisa Strohschein of University of Alberta finds that this thought has a solid foundation, especially when she derives her source from National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NSLCY). He comparison of 208 divorced parents and 4796 ones who are still intact prove that there aren’t difference when parents undergo divorce process. Nurturing, consistent, and punitive parenting still remain the same, without affecting the parental roles of those who are struggling the hardships of divorce.

The crucial result of this study is reflected on government’s programs and seminars for parents. Strochein also adds her opinion regarding this matter: "Researchers need to shed much more light on the predictors of parenting behavior in the post-divorce period so that this knowledge can be used to design programs that effectively target the real needs of divorced parents.”

To know more about this study, go to:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071210163203.htm

It might contradict to the popular belief that having children makes the parents feel happy ALL THE TIME. A study has proved that not it is time when parents feel completely joyful when they have children, where in fact, fathers feel so-so having sons and daughters around.

The Institute for Social and Economic research that females and even males feel negative with children aged three to four. On the other hand, female parents become happy when they children start growing from five to 15 while male parents don’t have feel much impact on this stage. Furthermore, female parents would be happier if they acquire a job regardless of the time needed for the wrok.

The co-author of the study, Professor Alison Booth of Essex University stated that the cause might be the parents’ inability to balance their work, their time for each other, and the time they’ll spend with children.

For more information, check:

http://news.scotsman.com/uk/Parenting-puts-an-end-to.3589916.jp