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

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 plan--and 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-ism"--other people will not matter to her. Her goals and needs are paramount to everyone else's 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 baby's 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.

You may know people on either side of these parenting styles who go overboard. That's not what I'm advocating here; a balance must be achieved. Remember these things:

 Life doesn't 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 day's events
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