The hardest job in the world is being a parent. You could spend every minute of your professional working life on top of the lines that keep the electricity moving through the world, and you still wouldn’t have a harder time than a parent. You are – as a mother or father – responsible for the life and health of another human being. That’s your task: to keep them alive, whole, healthy and able to take on the world. 

Parenthood is the biggest adventure you could go on, and yet it’s one of the adventures that puts us in constant difficulty. It is not in human nature to be selfless, and when another human being needs us, it isn’t easy. There are decisions that need to be made every single day for your children, and not all of them are easy.

Let’s take a look.

To Medicate Or Not?

Whether it’s vaccinations or medication for ADHD, there are huge issues in parenting that must be faced. You will come across these issues as you move through the ages and you will also find that the more you research, the more confusing it gets. The best thing to do is to listen to the doctors! 

What School?

When you have a newborn baby, you don’t think about it very much. Then, you’re suddenly touring primary schools, secondary schools, choosing whether to go with public or private sixth form colleges. It’s a minefield out there, and while you’ll be allowing your child to have some say, this is a decision that requires your input, too.

Too Much TV?

We live in a digital world but screen time is a contentious issue. Do you allow your child unlimited access to technology and go about your day, or do you limit the amount of time spent with the screens? It’s truly up to you, but you are a parent, and so have to predict the consequences of your decisions – this is the hardest bit!

Gentle Parenting?

It makes sense to raise children in a gentle way to help them to understand their actions, but it is not easy when you may have been raised with a stricter outlay. Parents have to find a balance between raising happy children who understand rules and not compromising their own beliefs. It’s hard to balance it, and yet people struggle to decide whether an iron fist is necessary.

Curfew?

Many parents get to the teen years and are ready for a break, but the fun is only just beginning as your children move into puberty and become teenagers who are exploring the world; it’s terrifying! Deciding whether you give your children curfews or whether to give them freedom is a big deal, but one that you must manage!

Children & Choices?

As a parent, it can be tempting to be your child’s friend first. You don’t have to be a friend first; they need you to be a parent. You need to have a balanced relationship, but the role of a parent must always come before the role of friend. Children need boundaries – which ones will you put in place?