by J. Renda

Created on: August 05, 2008

I agree that Prenatal Classes should introduce basic discipline principles.
There are a lot of soon to be parents that might not otherwise get the information.
As a new mom myself, there are many of us that recieve a multitude of advice that might
start with "If I were you.." or "You should really..." and it is overwhelming.
There are many people that would like to give us advice, other mothers, friends, our own parents or family and it is genuinely easier to take advice from someone that is not so close to you. Prenatal classes are already there to insure the basic needs of the child are met and to prepare the mother to have the child physically, and mentally. Then what?

I assure you that I read multiple magazines and had heaps of advice thrown at me during the months prior and even years after having my precious daughter. I took everyone's advice and still decided on my own what I felt was important as we all do. I believe that anything included in a prenatal class is beneficial because I believe as adults in a learning environment you are more apt to soak up the information and apply it later on. It is hard to listen to your own parent telling you "Sometimes you have to let her cry.." when I wanted to do was rush to my daughter and console her, what did that lead me to? I slept with her for her first three months on the couch and my husband felt distant. I trained her in a way to expect me to rush and meet her every need. She in turn cried endlessly when I needed her to adjust to sleeping alone instead of co-sleeping.
The title suggests discipline for children, though I think it should be soley for discipline of ourselves. Teach us as new parents to be patient, teach us to learn how to conduct ourselves when our child is out of control or inconsolable. Teach us to take a step back when our infant is not responding to our attempts to coddle, feed, rock ect. Teach us to try again and not get frustrated to the point we are exhausted and may drop them. Teach us to accept that they may cry for an extended amount of time and instead of getting angry to realize it may be gas or collick. I was so upset at my daughter when she was a week old. I hadn't slept in almost three days, she woke up every hour to eat, she didnt go to sleep if I rocked her or she was full. She wouldnt be consoled if I talked to her or held her. She was a crier and then turned into a screamer for months. I was so angry I told her three or four times "What DO you want?" I was angry. My husband

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