In the first moments, your new little one seems more like an alien than a bundle of joy, but after a bath for baby and a few deep breaths for the new parents, your little angel looks their part. Their little red face is all scrunched up, and the sounds that voice from their puckered little mouth are the most precious notes you could ever hope for. You ache any time the nurses take them for tests, and you deny offers from well meaning friends and family who offer to hold them while you get some sleep. All you want to do is be with your new baby, and you'll forego food, water and sleep to do just that! A Little Hand To Hold
You have waited nine months and exhausted, yet deliriously happy, the long awaited moment has arrived and your baby takes it’s first breath in the real world. The first precious cry is heard and you lay eyes on your beautiful new baby. It is a moment like no other you will ever experience in your life, your heart skips a beat and a powerful rush of love and emotion overcomes your entire being.
From that moment on you have taken on the most important yet rewarding roles you will have in your life. You have become a Parent and a Teacher of life. You now have a little hand to hold and guide along the journey of life.
Amidst the feelings of exhaustion, unbelievable joy and love, a tiny yet important question enters your mind. This question will always remain in the background of your thoughts through each step along your little one’s journey from baby to teenage years. That question is, “Will I be the best parent that I can be?”
Each day will have it’s set of joys, sorrows, frustrations, milestones, and trials and errors. Each and everyday I look back upon my day and summarize the events that occurred during that day. I look at the events that were positive and look at the ones where I can improve upon. Did I spend enough time with my children that day? Did I give them enough love and attention? What could I do differently tomorrow? Am I being the best parent I could be and will my children turn out fine young adults?
Yes, you can be a parent and a teacher but also be a mentor! A mentor is someone who provides support, guidance, friendship and respect to a child. Being a mentor means developing a child’s strengths, share a child’s interest, give advice and support, give praise, listen and be a friend.
Spending time with your baby and child helps you to become a mentor. There are many special things you can do from shopping together to going to a zoo. The most important thing is, you do things together which includes communicating with each other.
- Respect your child’s thoughts and opinions without judging them. You may disagree with your child but make it known that you want to know what his or her thoughts are without the threat of being punished.
- Support your child’s interests and strengths.
- Be open about your own strengths and weaknesses.
Mentoring gives kids the support they need to become the people they are meant to be. The one important thing is that there is always efficient communication from the birth of your baby throughout childhood and the teenage years.
You now have a little hand to hold! Lead your special baby along life’s journey and take time to smell the roses whenever possible. Count your blessings as there are many, including the beautiful baby whose hand you are holding.
