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Russic · 12-31-2011, 12:09 PM

Congrats!

My advice:
- Everybody will give you advice and everybody thinks their way is the best (myself included, I think I'm awesome). This is generally unavoidable. Practice your polite smile and head nod.

- Debating parenting styles is not unlike debating religion, the only result will be anger and frustration. Parent your kid in a way that makes sense to you and makes you comfortable and don't offer advice unless asked. If somebody gets in your face about how you do things it's probably best to just abandon ship. The situation will rarely get more pleasant once that ball starts rolling.

- Don't let yourself or your wife get swept up in the baby olympics. If your kid isn't using full sentences by the end of year 1 they aren't handicapped (but everybody will insinuate that they are). All kids walk, talk and use the toilet... when they get there isn't terribly important.

- Following the advice of the non-parents in this thread and not discussing your kid will be surprisingly difficult. Life does a 180 on you with kids and talking about anything else actually becomes a chore because you aren't focused on much else. Do keep it in mind though and catch yourself when you start to babble (I babble, so I know).

- Your child sleeping will become a HUGE focus of many conversations. Many parents compare notes on this and opinions can get heated. I've been flat-out told to my face that our method of helping our kid sleep will turn him into a sociopath. It's impossible in my opinion to be void of judgement when talking with other parents, but keep hurtful comments like that to yourself.

- The first 2-3 months are a serious system shock. Don't let it freak you out too much, just endure it. Things get easier imo.

- Routine is awesome and your kid will respond well to it. You'll break routine for social engagements (BBQ's, parties, weddings etc.) and your kid might become the worst nightmare you can imagine for a day or two. That's the trade-off. For this reason I generally only attend BBQ's that have fireworks and/or strippers, otherwise they probably aren't worth it (your friends without kids will make fun of you for being a hermit).

12-31-2011, 12:09 PM	#67
Russic Dances with Wolves Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Section 304 Exp:	Congrats! My advice: - Everybody will give you advice and everybody thinks their way is the best (myself included, I think I'm awesome). This is generally unavoidable. Practice your polite smile and head nod. - Debating parenting styles is not unlike debating religion, the only result will be anger and frustration. Parent your kid in a way that makes sense to you and makes you comfortable and don't offer advice unless asked. If somebody gets in your face about how you do things it's probably best to just abandon ship. The situation will rarely get more pleasant once that ball starts rolling. - Don't let yourself or your wife get swept up in the baby olympics. If your kid isn't using full sentences by the end of year 1 they aren't handicapped (but everybody will insinuate that they are). All kids walk, talk and use the toilet... when they get there isn't terribly important. - Following the advice of the non-parents in this thread and not discussing your kid will be surprisingly difficult. Life does a 180 on you with kids and talking about anything else actually becomes a chore because you aren't focused on much else. Do keep it in mind though and catch yourself when you start to babble (I babble, so I know). - Your child sleeping will become a HUGE focus of many conversations. Many parents compare notes on this and opinions can get heated. I've been flat-out told to my face that our method of helping our kid sleep will turn him into a sociopath. It's impossible in my opinion to be void of judgement when talking with other parents, but keep hurtful comments like that to yourself. - The first 2-3 months are a serious system shock. Don't let it freak you out too much, just endure it. Things get easier imo. - Routine is awesome and your kid will respond well to it. You'll break routine for social engagements (BBQ's, parties, weddings etc.) and your kid might become the worst nightmare you can imagine for a day or two. That's the trade-off. For this reason I generally only attend BBQ's that have fireworks and/or strippers, otherwise they probably aren't worth it (your friends without kids will make fun of you for being a hermit). Last edited by Russic; 12-31-2011 at 12:12 PM.