Quality not Quantity-Steps to A Great Parenthood

Suddenly I just felt the need to pen this all down. Even though I have yet to be bestowed with grandchildren, I am a constant witness to how young parents bring up their tiny tots.

Some people conceive readily, after one episode and they find that their bodies have changed. But for a minority few, conception is a challenge. They may have been married for years before getting any children. Children are God's gifts to us. They are meant to bring lots of joys and sorrows too. Well, ups and downs are all a part of life. However, often having them means putting their needs above our own.

But whatever you do, the results must be worth for all the efforts made. Therefore to succeed in anything even parenting, one must have plans and strategies. You have only one lifetime to do it. The life of your offspring depends on you. The human offspring takes a longer time to be detached and become independent from the parent unlike some infant animals that can walk or swim from birth.

As parents, it is our responsibility to produce quality children not just quantity. I salute those parents who have many children and all of them succeed. This group of parents is in the minority.

Each child must be planned and given the best chance to reach his/her full potential. Why bring a child into this World, only to abandon him and not guide him to be the best that he could be. Good parents beget good children. That is the general rule. Some people take it as fate that determines the future. That is nonsensical thinking. Whatever fate gives us is the result of whatever decisions and actions that we have taken.

So, for young parents out there, set out a plan on your parenthood targets.Most people only say how many children they want and stop at that. Most people cringed when I said my children must all seek academic excellence up to tertiary levels and they will all be beautiful. By beautiful, I meant, great and positive in attitude and good moral values. Beauty is not only physical, though it helps; but the beauty of a great personality is everlasting and exudes confidence.

From young you must care for your child's every needs.Some people just let their child decide everything for himself thinking that the child knows. Never take for granted. I was amazed when a friend told me that he once overheard from his children's conversation and learn that they could not tell a dog from a goat. It was then, he said, time to take them to the zoo!

Children has to be guided to make the best decision for themselves. They too have to be encouraged from young to be independent and to want to excel. By meaning to excel does not mean having a kiasu attitude. They have to be exposed from young to the imperfect World full of the unfortunate which they have to feel sympathetic to and not scornful off.

Modern parenthood starts before you conceive, as only a good healthy body can conceive and bear healthy babies.

Once they are born, it is more planning. You must not simply ride with the tide or listen to old Wife's Tales. Superstitions are out. Learn from books and magazines. Nowadays, it is even easy with lots of parenthood portals on the Net.

The first year of an infant's life is most important as it is at this stage the foundation is being laid.
The first five years are equally important as habits and values are inculcated during this period.

Good nutrition is the basis of good health and optimum physical and mental development of a child. Besides this, you have to monitor the physical milestones to check for any abnormalities. Early detection and education may save a lot of future heartaches. Once you know the stage at which your child is at, you can encourage his capabilities and improve them.

More targets have to be set to stimulate their development even before they go to school. My targets were set at a level that is above the rest of their peers. So, even before they went to school, my children were already reading and counting easy numbers, not just knowing the alphabet.