Natural Parenting Tips for New Mothers
There is a proverb in the Orient: "The soul of three years lasts a hundred
years." This traditional belief reflects the idea that whatever children learn in
their first three years will influence them throughout life. The parents'
character and lifestyle have a tremendous impact on their children. If the
father and mother are happy, loving, and positive about life, their children will
probably assume a similar attitude. If they quarrel or have a negative outlook,
their children can easily grow into quarrelsome or negative adults.
Children are often mirror images of their parents. If parents spend their
evenings watching television, for example, their children will probably grow to
imitate them. Similarly, adults who behave in an offensive way may find their
children copying their manner. A baby watches her parents very carefully. They
are crucial models for her development. When children behave in an
unacceptable way, parents must recognize their influence and responsibility.
If profanity is used at home, parents should not be surprised if children start
to use the same words. When adults use elegant and respectful language,
children tend to develop a similar way of speaking. People who are spiritual do
not use profanity. They prefer more refined and respectful language. Setting
the right example begins as soon as your child is born.
When a child is born, she naturally becomes the center of the family. If the
parents are eating well and in good health, they should have very little
difficulty adjusting to the new baby. It will happen quite naturally. Of course,
with the birth of a child, parents do need to make some changes in their daily
lives. If a mother is eating well, the quality of her breast milk will most likely
cause her baby to be very peaceful, a good sleeper, and, in general, healthy
and content. When this is the case, parents have the freedom to go out
socially with their new baby and have their privacy as well. Of course, once the
baby arrives, the parents will most likely limit their social activities to those
that they can easily handle with the baby present and those that are most
peaceful for the baby as well. If a mother is not eating a balanced diet-eating
too many sweets or too much salt, for example-problems may develop with
her breast milk and her baby may not enjoy a balanced physical condition. It is
very important for a mother to eat well during the time that she breastfeeds,
both for the health of her child and to make her adjustment to parenthood as
well as her husband's as smooth as possible.