Learning to Parent

As I am just entering the world of parenthood I find myself observing other parents as they parent their children.  My hope as a parent is to just be the best parent I can be to Lukas and any future children Mr. Cob and I may be blessed with.  Lukas didn't come with an instruction manual, and as far as I know, no child does.  So as a parent you do what you think is best at the time.  You have to read your child and put their needs before your own and just have faith that you won't screw them up.  At least that is how I feel as I begin this parenting adventure.

In my 9.5 weeks as a parent, I've already questioned most things I've done.  Am I letting him swing in the lamb swing too often/too long?  (One parenting book I read says you should only let your baby in the swing for 30 minutes twice a day max.)  Am I feeding him often enough?  Am I feeding him too much?  Should I let him cry when I put him to bed or pick him up and rock him/feed him/sing to him until he falls asleep?  Is it OK to take him out in public when he's so little?  Should I let him use a pacifier?  Is it OK to have the TV when Lukas is awake?  What if he starts watching it?  Surely he's too little and the TV is bad for a baby, right?

These are the questions I'm constantly asking myself.  And I know that this is just the beginning of my journey parenting.  Lukas is a baby and in the end I believe that as long as his basic needs are met (being fed, changed, loved, cuddled, etc.) he will be just fine.  But as he grows, I'm sure my questions will grow with him.

This week I've been observing my older brother parent his two and a half year old son.  I've learned some "tricks" to help outsmart a toddler.  But mostly, I've seen that children really do just need to be loved and allowed to play.  My brother is an amazing father.  I've enjoyed watching him interact with his son and vice versa.  My nephew loves his dadda.  And dadda loves Stuie.  I can definitely learn some things about parenting from my big brother.  I'm lucky to have him in my life and have him a few steps ahead of me in this parenting game.