Tarana Khan

My best parenting decisions


The most unexpected part of being a grownup is being questioned about the choices you make. We are free to make our own choices, but by doing so, we become part of factions. Then, we become vulnerable to slingshots from opposing factions, only for making our own decisions.

Nowhere is this more evident than in our parenting methods. Whatever we decide to do, it will always invite judgement from someone who thinks differently. I believe that there is no right or wrong way about raising a child, except when there is physical or mental harm to a child. But I also think it's important to have open discussions about why we chose to be the type of parent we are, or as it happened in my case, how we ended up becoming the moms or dads we are.

I've often used this blog to talk about my parenting mistakes. But this time, I am going to focus on the decisions I'm glad I made - despite the fact that I'm a first-time mom. From those early days to the present day (two years later), I've received a lot of parenting advice - most of it well-meaning, but not necessarily cut out for me. I have always made my decisions based on what my instincts tell me as a mother. I know that deep down, we are all equipped with the right information to raise our children well. I may not even fall into the conventional category of parents, but I'm not making any distinctions. As long as parents do whatever they feel is right out of love for their children, and with an aim of raising healthy and compassionate human beings, they are good parents.



Here are the decisions I'm happy I made when I became a parent:

I never picked up a parenting book, probably because I didn't feel the need to. And also because I never had the time! Yes, I did turn to other moms online for quick advice, and most of them were helpful, but I also kept in mind that every child is different. Something that works for one parent may be completely unsuitable for another. I've always been a little wary of books telling me what my child should or should not be like. So, except for medical advice, I ignored them altogether.

I slept next to my baby, and I think it saved my sanity. I made sure this was safely done, and combined with breastfeeding, the nights were so much easier. We did have many sleepless nights even then (and continue to do so), but I didn't end up feeling like a zombie too often because I didn't have to keep getting out of bed to get to my child. I wasn't a light sleeper before, but after becoming a mom, I gained the superpower to become aware of Little Dude's every movement so I was never worried about him being unsafe. Rather than ruin my sleep, it actually helped me sleep peacefully every time I did.

I didn't let the charts worry me. In the first year, I kept a close eye on my son's growth, but I never compared him with anybody else's child. He was active and healthy, and that's all that matters. I was lucky to have a doctor who agreed with me, so I saved myself a lot of stress. It was really disconcerting to see stats sharing threads on some online forums, so I just stayed away from them.

We managed without baby classes, and Little Dude knows how to keep himself busy. I don't think it's important to formalise play and socialising, so I didn't make an effort to organise playdates or enroll in any activity classes. I still ended up making new friends, and our children played together when they could. Apart from that, we always find ways to keep him engaged in simple activities that can be done at home.

I continued breastfeeding past a year, even though that was not how I had planned it initially. Things were going fine, so I just let it continue, and I still breastfeed my toddler (here's the story I shared on a guest post recently). My initial challenges taught me that breastfeeding is not always easy to establish, so I feel lucky to have managed this far.

I love staying home full time, even though that's the last thing I thought I would do! I do feel that I am losing my mind sometimes, but I treasure every memory I have of my baby. I still feel like he grew up too fast, but at least I was there during that time. Again, I have a sense of thankfulness for being able to stay at home, because I could make that choice - and I'm so glad I did.

What are the decisions you are most proud of having made?

This post has been linked to Finish The Sentence Friday, which I'm happy to say I'll be co-hosting next week! Don't forget to come back next Friday and join in!



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