Then vs. now

[Ashley]

What has changed the most since first having a child/kids compared to now? Parenting philosophies, ideas, goals, etc?

[PinkPaisley]

my appearance, i look so bad now.

[Jojo]

What I thought I would do. Wow, it's so different. I thought I Had it all figured out until I realized that lack of sleep really really sucked.

[Ashley]

I agree Jo! You have it all figured out until you have kids :hehe:

[AddiesMomma]

I hate labels, but for the sake of simplifying things...I started out pretty "crunchy" but have relaxed A LOT on the way I parent. I think a lot of it has to do with her getting older and having her own personality too. I don't feel like I have to do things a certain way, I just do them the way that seems best for us.

[Caitlin]

Yeah, I'm surprised at how easy it is to say "oh, I'm going to do this, this, and this" but then completely change your goals/plans when baby is actually here.

Like Jo said, you think you have it ALL figured out before the baby comes. :hehe: I had a major wake-up call!

[emilade]

I had very set in stone ideals. Some of them remain, but I have adjusted them as I see fit for both kids. Basically, at this point, I try to go by what I feel they need/do well with/etc.

The one thing that comes to mind that I stand firm on is discipline (I believe in gentle discipline; no spanking/yelling, etc.). I refuse to budge on that one.

[PinkPaisley]

I had very set in stone ideals. Some of them remain, but I have adjusted them as I see fit for both kids. Basically, at this point, I try to go by what I feel they need/do well with/etc.

The one thing that comes to mind that I stand firm on is discipline (I believe in gentle discipline; no spanking/yelling, etc.). I refuse to budge on that one.

Really??? Hmmm i think i know who to go to for advise. I tend to yell a lot with the kids now. My parents did it to me and i always said i won't but i do, but i also found that i have two very stubborn kids.

[emilade]

My parents were that way with me, too. And Mike's with his. So it's a challenge somedays because it's all you know. But for me, with the feelings my sisters and I have about our childhoods and Mike about his, it makes sense to break the cycle, KWIM?

[Farah]

I don't know how much things have changed in terms of my parenting philosophy since I've had kids. I didn't have a firm set of rules I was to follow when having kids. I think as a teacher I was ready to do what I could based on that child's needs. I was and am pretty neurotic with my new babies, but as they get older I chill out.

Emily, I'm the same way with discipline. I try not to yell and most of the time I'm good, but I am firm on there being discipline in our home and respect. I just refuse to ONLY have negative reinforcement and will just as often tell my child how great he is!

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[Sign Of The Fish Burger]

I've stayed true to pretty much all of my parenting philosophies- because I tend not to look at them as philosophies but more of what comes natural to me, I follow it. So a lot of the stuff I *thought* would feel natural to me before I had her ended up being true once she was born.

I had a very strict no TV policy but with morning sickness kicking my butt I've slipped a little and she gets maybe 20ish minutes a day (broken up, since her attention span isn't that big :hehe:).

I was pretty determined to wear Isabella all the time when she was little (which I did) and rarely used the swing. I'm sure that will change with the new baby and I'll probably use it more than I did with Isabella.

I'm guessing a lot of my ideals will change once the new baby comes but its hard to say this early. I'll just go with the flow and hopefully that will result in things being easier. It's kind of like survival of the fittest around here haha