One thing you need to understand about the parenting game is that you must take on some new and important duties. Sure, you can still be yourself, but parenting requires you to understand that regardless of whether you want to accept these new duties, they nevertheless are yours, and it’s for your and your kids’ benefit that you do them well. I must point out, in all fairness, that just because you get to the point and are specific about your requests, children don’t always listen. They have their own wants and desires, too, and they may not be the same as yours. Just because my child has crying jags (and/or doesn’t sleep through the night at 3 months), it doesn’t mean that I’m doing something wrong. Being consistent sounds easy, like one of the easiest rules of The Parenting Game. But your kids have one up on you. They’re cute; they cry; they beg; tiny arms reach up; tear-filled eyes beg for mercy; and boo-boo lips protrude. But don’t give in. Be strong. Be consistent. Your kids really want that from you. They need it. They want to know the guidelines and they want you to be consistent about enforcing them. Just don’t babble: Sweetheart, please don’t touch the apples. If you touch the pretty red apples, they may all fall on the ground causing your dear, sweet mother an enormous amount of embarrassment. What he hears is: Sweetheart, blah apples blah blah. . . .

Who couldn’t use more patience? I suppose we all could. But what is patience, anyway? Broken down into parenting terms, it means not allowing the things that children do to bug you. After all, children are being themselves. My house doesn’t have to be picture-perfect (or spotless) to ensure that my baby has a wonderful childhood. My pediatrician will not think I’m unintelligent for asking questions about my child’s development. Anger usually is a parent’s first reaction because what kids do is unexpected and it’s also usually the parent who has to clean it up. So what? Stop, take several deep breaths, look at that sweet face, and smile. Anger is wasted energy and that energy should be spent somewhere else. You need an effective way to express your ideas, wants, and desires to your kids. That’s communication. Speak clearly, precisely, and without a lot of babbling. But taking the time to listen also is important. In any relationship — even with your hair stylist — if you don’t, won’t, or can’t communicate effectively, you’re doomed. Doomed! Doomed! Doomed!The Egyptians knew that to make the whole pyramid concept work, they had to start with a strong, solid base. This base had to be all-encompassing and broad enough to handle the weight of everything that went on top of it. Making a good pyramid took a long time. Many attempts at building pyramids failed, but those aren’t the structures that you see in pictures or get to tour.

Everything you do and say is absorbed by your child’s brain. This happens whether you want it to or not, so welcome to your second role as parent, that of teacher. Covering information for newborns to pre-teens, Parenting For Dummies gives you the essentials of parenting basics. From dealing with a crying baby and potty training, to building self-esteem and dealing with sibling rivalry, it offers a gold mine of up-to-date advice. Your kids will do anything they can to get your attention. Even if that means negative attention. If you don’t spend time with your children and give them positive attention, they’ll do whatever it takes to get your attention. If they find that pouring water on the floor is what it takes to get you to spend time with them, they’ll do it. As small children, these acts are innocent enough. But as your children get older, they’ll do dangerous things, like drugs and alcohol. Finding Your Sense of Humor in the Lost and FoundWithout being evil, children have an uncanny ability to push all your buttons. You really need to be able to laugh at the things that ordinarily would drive you up the wall. In other words, relax. Don’t concern yourself with the fact that your 2-year-old has poured baby powder all over the place. Instead, grab the camera. It’s going to be a funny story in a few hours so you may as well snap it for the album before cleaning the little one up. The images that occupy your mind and your words can say a lot about how you think about the job of parenting. Are you actively bending the twig or are you passively watching the seedling sprout and blossom? But these images also can mislead you if you don’t periodically readjust the picture to fit the changing needs of your children. I suggest four images to keep in mind. They’re quite simple but they may remind you of how the job of parenting changes over time. Everything new and experienced parents need to know about their baby's first 12 months to give them the best start in life Think about your best friend. Ask yourself how this person became your best friend? You probably just spent a lot of time together, had fun, and, the next thing you knew, you were friends. The same thing can happen with your children. Raising kids isn’t the time to be selfish with your time or energy. It’s the time when you make time to be with and do things with your kids. Remember