People love giving advice when you’re a new or expecting parent. They’re filled with brilliant insights on the best way to do everything. They tell you how to feed your child, get them to sleep, get them a head start on their academics, and how to discipline them. You name it, you get a boatload of unsolicited wisdom. Most of it goes in one ear and out the other. That’s okay, because there’s no way you can remember, much less act, on most of what you hear.
When it comes to the moment of truth – when you bring your baby home – you follow your instincts anyway. You do what you feel is right. Parenting instinct is a very real thing, and all parents experience it. When you’re faced with a child-rearing decision and have a host of choices before you, one usually stands out as the best. It seems to make sense. The choice resonates with you, how you see yourself as a parent, and how you want to raise your child.
The Advice Never Stops
The advice keeps coming through all the developmental stages. But as your child grows, your choices become less obvious. Gray area creeps in. In contrast to the early years, simple solutions become elusive. When an infant cries, you pick up that baby and love on it. Simple. When a toddler tantrums, you ignore the unwanted behavior (unless there’s imminent physical harm), redirect, and reward the