Hello, question asker.
First of all, I'd like to give you a big thumbs-up for being a responsible and caring superdad!
As a new dad, it's understandable that your different parenting styles from your wife and elders have led to some conflicts.
It can be a little unsettling, but it also shows that the whole family loves and values the baby, so it's the same thing.
Everyone loves their kids. We all just want to show our love in different ways.
I'd like to discuss with you how to raise children from several aspects.
First, let's talk about how to handle disagreements with family members about education and parenting styles.
It's important to remember that you and your wife are both new to being parents and caregivers. This is a whole new role for you both.
So, we all have to accept that it's ignorance that causes conflicts and contradictions.
We can all agree that we love our kids and want them to grow up happy and healthy.
From this perspective, with the same starting point, which is the basis for reaching an agreement.
So, for the sake of the baby, the first thing to do is to avoid arguing and calmly negotiate with empathy and understanding for the other person's anxiety.
The kind of anxiety.
Next, we need to figure out who the main stable caregiver is.
Even though they're both raising the child, it's important to let them know that the child will be following the other for longer and that the other is the child's first and most stable caregiver.
So, it's important to think about what the main caregiver needs and to make sure they're feeling reassured.
The emotional stability of the caregiver is key to ensuring the child lives in a safe and secure environment.
Next, we need to figure out the parenting methods and goals.
This formulation requires everyone to sit down and discuss together. It's also important to be clear about the different parenting approaches needed for children of different ages.
And the parenting methods needed are also different.
As a general rule, the psychological society uses Erikson's eight stages of personality development as a reference point.
I'll share the first three stages since the sixth stage involves adulthood.
1. Infancy (0–1.5 years): the psychological conflict between basic trust and distrust. At this time, don't think of the baby as an ignorant creature.
It's a common misconception that as long as you're fed, you don't need to worry. In fact, this is a period of psychological conflict between basic trust and distrust.
This is because during this period, the child starts to get to know people. It's important for the child to see that the parents will come when they're crying or hungry, so they know they can trust them.
Trust is what we call the quality of "hope" in the personality, which strengthens the self.
Kids who have a sense of trust are full of hope, have big dreams, and are optimistic about the future. On the other hand, kids who don't have a sense of trust are less hopeful.
And they worry constantly about their needs not being met.
Erikson defines hope as "a persistent belief in the attainability of one's desires."
It's a roar against the forces of darkness and a symbol of the birth of life.
So, the main thing parents should focus on at this stage is making sure the baby feels safe and secure, and building a strong attachment based on that.
It's important to have touch and skin contact with the child.
The second stage of childhood is from 1.5 to 3 years old. This is when kids start to push back against being told what to do. They want to be independent, but they're also still learning how to interact with others.
During this period, kids learn a lot of new skills, like crawling, walking, and talking. They also start to understand how to stick with things or give up when they need to.
Put another way, kids start making their own choices about what they do and don't do. This can lead to some pretty intense conflicts between parents and their little ones.
This is when the first stage of rebellion emerges. On the one hand, parents need to take on the task of controlling children's behavior to conform to social norms.
That means they need to develop good habits, like training kids to use the bathroom so they feel embarrassed about dirty or messy behavior.
They also need to learn to eat at the right times and save food. At the same time, children are starting to feel more independent and want to stick to their own eating and excreting habits.
So, training good habits is a challenge. At this time, children will keep using "I," "we,"
"No" is their way of resisting external control. Parents shouldn't listen to them and let them go, as this won't help the child to socialise.
On the other hand, if they're too strict, they'll hurt the child's sense of autonomy and self-control.
If parents don't handle things the right way, kids will get suspicious and start to feel shy.
So, understanding the concept of "degree" is helpful for fostering willpower in a child's personality.
Erikson defines willpower as "the ability to make your own choices and control your own behavior, even when you're feeling shy or unsure."
3. Early School Age (3–6 years): Active Conflict with Guilt
If you encourage your child to explore and be active during this period,
If kids are encouraged to explore and take the initiative, they'll be more likely to become responsible and creative adults.
If adults make fun of kids for being creative, it can really knock their confidence.
This makes them more likely to live within the narrow circle that others have set for them, without the initiative to create a happy life for themselves.
When kids have more drive than guilt, they develop a sense of purpose.
Erikson defines purpose as "the courage to face and pursue worthwhile goals, without letting fear of loss hold you back."
They're held back by guilt and fear of punishment.
The key for the person raising the child during this period is to praise and educate the child, avoid criticism and harsh words, and encourage the child's sense of initiative.
And fifth, it's important to find a way to resolve conflicts through compromise.
When opinions differ, each person can make their case. You might want to think about finding a wife you can trust.
It's also helpful to have elders or close friends who have already experienced childbearing, and who can show you what to do by example.
I'd also like to mention that a happy atmosphere in the whole family and emotional stability in the couple are important.
The maturity of the couple's personalities also plays a part in how well the child develops.
Comments
It sounds like you're navigating some complex territory as a new father. I believe loving a child is about providing warmth and security, but it's also important to set boundaries that help them grow into independent individuals. The challenge is finding a balance where affection doesn't lead to dependency.
Your concerns resonate deeply with me. It seems the core issue is distinguishing between nurturing and overindulgence. Cuddling can indeed offer a sense of safety, but there's wisdom in teaching selfsoothing too. Perhaps a middle ground exists where both needs are met.
I think this conversation touches on the heart of parenting. Love should empower children to thrive independently, not create reliance. While cuddling can be comforting, encouraging selfreliance might be more beneficial in the long run. Maybe discussing these goals with your family could bridge some gaps in perspective.
The question of love versus indulgence is a tough one. From what I understand, spoiling can hinder a child's ability to cope with challenges. Pride from praise is different—it builds confidence. Avoiding trauma certainly helps, yet resilience comes from overcoming small setbacks too. Parental love means guiding through both support and discipline.
You raise excellent points about the nuances of parental love. It's clear you want the best for your child. Sometimes, what feels like love can unintentionally become overindulgence. Finding a way to show affection while promoting autonomy is key. Discussing these ideas openly with your wife and elders might help align everyone's approach to raising your child.