13 Weeks Pregnant

The Guiding Principles of Parenting

The upcoming second trimester is a good time for you and your partner to talk about what kind of parents you want to be. There is no question that being a parent is the hardest, most important, and most rewarding job you'll ever have. So, how best to prepare for your new role?

One of the best ways to get ready is to create guiding principles of parenting. These are the points that you and your partner believe are most important in raising a child. You probably have some ideas already. Things like unconditional love, positive reinforcement, morals and values, education, manners, and so on, may already be part of your own principles.

To establish personal guiding principles of parenting, think about the kind of person you want your child to be at age 25 or 30. Once you have this picture in your mind, begin to work backwards to determine what principles will help you guide your child throughout his or her life. You and your partner may need a series of discussions to develop these guidelines, but having a set of agreed upon principles will achieve two extremely important things: It will help you both be on the same page when it comes to parenting, and it will provide you with a framework for managing difficult everyday situations.

As with any job, especially one involving a team, a game plan for meeting your goals is essential. Now is a great time to develop that plan for you, your partner, and your child.