How to Get Ready to Be a Parent—And Be the Best Mom or Dad You Can Possibly Be: The Life Guide Series

By Dr. Suzanne Gelb, PhD, JD

Got a child on the way? Excited? Nervous? Overwhelmed… a little? Or a lot? Now's the time to get calm and prepared for the big event. This Life Guide can help.

Inside this Guide, you'll find practical steps to help you prepare for the joyous (but sometimes stressful) experience of being a mom or dad. 

This Guide is ideal for first-time parents, and for parents who are expecting a new child and want to do things differently this time around. It can also help parents who want a quick reference guide and a refresher course.

You'll learn how to:

• Manage your feelings and concerns, instead of bottling them up.
• Identify helpful (and not-so-helpful) parenting patterns already at work in you.
• Change unhelpful patterns now, so that you don't pass them onto your child.
• Uplift your self-talk.
• Communicate openly with your partner (if you have one) to get "on the same page" about parenting.
• Take practical steps to building a strong network of friends and allies, so that you're not going on this journey alone.
• Create a self-care plan.
• And more!

Join the many other soon-to-be parents who have learned how to be the BEST parent they could possibly be by following the steps in How To Get Ready to Be a Parent—And Be the Best Mom or Dad You Can Possibly Be, today!
___________
—Approximate File Size: 268 KB
—Approximate Print Length: 89 pages
—Approximate Paperback Length: 118 pages

The Life Guide Series

______________

Reviews

"I looked into this book as a gift for a friend's daughter who was expecting her first child.  And when I read the 1st words of the Introduction I knew it was a good choice: "Learn to navigate the parenting journey, learn to relax into it, and enjoy it fully."  The rest of the book helps teach the parents how to do that! Lovely book."

--Happy Reader, Amazon Customer Review
______________

• Language: English
• Publisher: Suzanne J. Gelb PhD, JD
• Release date: Sep 13, 2019
• ISBN: 9781950764150

Book preview

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

Learn to navigate the parenting journey, learn to relax into it and enjoy it fully

STEP 1

How are you feeling and what are your concerns?

STEP 2

What are your parenting intentions?

STEP 3

What are your patterns?

STEP 4

Changing Your Patterns

STEP 5

Soothing your fears.

STEP 6

Make a plan

STEP 7

Gathering support. (Who’s on your team?)

A FEW FINAL WORDS

Parenting can be A challenge, but it doesn’t have to be complicated.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Resources... To keep learning and growing

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

OTHER BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR

INDEX

DISCLAIMER

This book is a tool that can help you to become the BEST version of yourself, so you can be the BEST parent you can possibly be.

This book contains educational exercises and tips drawn from the author’s career in the field of emotional wellness with over 30 years of experience. This book is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or treat any illness, nor is it a substitute for professional or psychological advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified health care professional before engaging in any new, self-help resource (such as this one) and with questions you may have about your health and wellbeing.

Any case material that may be alluded to in this book, including in articles, or in interviews [see Resources section] does not constitute guarantees of similar outcomes for the reader. No results can be promised, since everyone's personal development path is unique. Names and details have been changed for privacy.

Links inside this book to external websites are for informational purposes only. Linking does not imply endorsement of or affiliation with that site, its content, or any product or service it may offer.

All link URLs in this book are current at the time of printing. Link URLs may fail at some point if the page has been deleted or moved. The author and the publisher assume no responsibility or liability for broken links. 

This concludes the disclaimer portion of this book.

Thank you. Enjoy this Guide ... and enjoy your life.

INTRODUCTION

Learn to navigate the parenting journey, learn to relax into it and enjoy it fully

Welcome to The Life Guide on How To Get Ready To Be A Parent.

Congratulations are in order! You’re going to be a parent!

If you picked up a copy of this Guide, chances are, you might be feeling ...

—Incredibly happy and excited ... but uncertain about how to prepare for the adventure ahead. (I’m ready! But, um, what’s next?)

—Completely anxious and overwhelmed. (Whoa! I’m NOT ready for this!)

—Worried that somehow, you’re going to do parenting wrong. That you’ll repeat the same mistakes as your parents or peers. (I don’t want to be like ... so-and-so.)

—Worried that becoming a parent will change you. That you’ll become someone else. Someone you don’t like. (I don’t want to become one of those exhausted, irritable, resentful parents, like ... so-and-so.)

—Worried that when your family grows, your relationship with your partner will change. (Will he get jealous or feel left out, if I’m spending lots of time with the baby? How will our sexual relationship be different after our child is born — will she still be interested?)

Parenthood is a huge life commitment. It’s no surprise that you may be feeling ... a lot of feelings!

But whatever you’re feeling, the good news is: parenting is not an unsolvable mystery. In fact, it’s much less complex than many people think.

Your job is simply to teach your child right from wrong, while ensuring that they feel completely secure in your love. (Your unconditional love.)

After moving through this Life Guide, you can be better equipped to navigate the parenting journey — so that you can relax into and enjoy it, fully.

If you're already a parent and expecting another child, consider this a quick reference guide and refresher course.

Or perhaps you want to do things differently this time around. It’s never too late to learn to do better. To bring out the absolute best in your child(ren) and in yourself.

Before we dive in — a logistical note, for couples:

If you’re part of a couple, it’s a good idea to work through this Guide separately, each on your own, and then come together to share your responses to each question.

This can help you to see where you’re aligned, and where your values and parenting styles might be diverging.

Noticing those places where you diverge — early — is so important. It means you’ll have a chance to address those differences before they turn into nasty fights, or a pattern of inconsistent parenting, later down the line.

It’s up to BOTH of