As a parent, you have the opportunity to set the tone in your home based on the style of parenting you choose. You may choose child-centered parenting or family-centered parentingthe differences will be discussed here.

 Child-centered Parenting
o Intensely pursue the childs happiness, taking nice strains to avoid discomfort or emotional stress for the child.
o The child receives what she wants when she wants it: no delay, no standing around .

These concepts might not sound too bad, but what happens when Mom is sick? Or when Mom & Dad want to leave the baby with a sitter? There is little-to-no freedom in this parenting planand the baby will not grow in to a child who understands delayed gratification or how the world works. Additionally, this sets a child up for a bad case of me-ismother all the people will not matter to her. Her goals and needs are paramount to everybody elses goals and needs, and the ability to look outward and understand being part of a team will be compromised.

 Family-centered Parenting
o Keeps the babys needs met, but within the appropriate context of the family unit.
o The child enters in to a team-setting; she is not the center of the universe, but part of the family-team.

These concepts might not seem very different from the child-centered approach to parenting, but the results of the two methods are starkly different. Parents have the freedom to meet their childs needs and look ahead to developing skills and abilities, as they arent catering to every fleeting whim or fancy a child might express. Sitters are okay for the family, as the parents will take measure out to date and be intentional with each other. Because a baby raised in a family-centered plan understands that she is part of a team, she will learn we-ism, not me-ism. She will ruminate on others as she grows and how her goals and needs can be met within the framework of a teamwithout compromising the others on the team.

You might know all the people on either side of these parenting styles who go overboard. Thats not what Im advocating here; a balance must be achieved. Remember these things:

 Life doesnt stop because you have a baby
 Date your spouse
 Continue those loving gestures you enjoyed before your baby came along
 Invite some friends over for food and fellowship
 At the end of each day, spend 15 minutes sitting with your spouse, discussing the days events