POLL: How Do You Know What You Are Doing (parenting)?

[mc03]

I want to check all of them!! Haha!

[mrsnorris]

Well, a lot of the above are applicable but I'm pretty sure I still don't know what I'm doing 95% of the time.

[daisylola11]

I nannyed for a few years so that helped a lot, but mostly from reading experiences here and a few suggestions from family and friends.

I've yet to read a parenting book, I started reading pregnancy books and never finished them because I got so much more useful info from u ladies!

[jamjoyful]

I just wing it.

[mandapanda1382]

Mostly I just go with what feels right for me and my baby day-to-day. But I also think about what kind of parent I want to be - what battles are worth fighting for me -and figure out my priorities that way.

[sosayweall]

I don't.

[bobloblaw]

Right now? It's a combo of winging it, asking friends and family and reading What you girls do.

[Chrisse]

Jan 26, 2015 7:49:16 GMT -5 bobloblaw said:

Right now? It's a combo of winging it, asking friends and family and reading What you girls do.

Pretty much this (less asking family, though). Between winging it and doing it up A14-style, LO seems to be surviving.

[sjshark]

I really do feel like it's a combo of all of those. Side note, does it drive anyone else nuts when you encounter something as first time parents and your SO asks you what to do and you're like, this is my first time too! You know as much as I do!

[cdseno]

I figure if we all make it to the end of the day alive and with full bellies and no major injuries, then I am doing an alright job. Even having BTDT there are days I feel like I have no clue what I am doing with either child.

[yogini kiki]

So far I have been going on instinct with the occasional google search. I have a very easy baby though.

[3magicbeans]

I'm btdt, but for DS (my LO1), I depended a lot on google and actually advice from our dcp

Even though I'm btdt, each of my los is very different and present unique challenges.  

[caybeh]

This is my second, so most of it is BTDT with her right now.

For both kids, I ask family/friends and we are taking a class at church about raising kids.

[mandapanda1382]

Jan 26, 2015 8:10:35 GMT -5 sjshark said:

I really do feel like it's a combo of all of those. Side note, does it drive anyone else nuts when you encounter something as first time parents and your SO asks you what to do and you're like, this is my first time too! You know as much as I do!

Yes!!
It's so irritating. I always ask him why he can't figure it out as well as I can.

[wandsandwine]

You guys have been very helpful as has Google lol but mostly I go by trial and error and gut feelings. We try something if it doesn't work we modify. If at the end of the day the amount of smiles are greater than tears I consider it a success

[Courtniko]

I really feel like I just have no clue at all what I am doing. DD is still alive and growing and happy, so I guess I have not screwed up too badly yet.

[haliebabe]

I voted family and friends, though really my mom. I am the first of my friends my age to even have a baby. I ask my mom on a lot of stuff. I've been lucky to have a happy baby... for the most part. Also asking all my stupid question on here and onto the FB group.

[those3words]

My [former]Bumpie Bitches FTW.

[silvermelody]

You guys, my local mom group, and my friends who recently had babies (as in within 6 months of LO). Occasionally I'll read a parenting article but it was usually linked by someone in one of the above categories.

More than once I've been here and read about someone's baby doing something (like blowing spit bubbles) and thought "oh, LO doesn't do that yet." And then he starts doing it within 2 days. You guys were also super helpful with selecting baby gear back in the day. I would have been so lost.

[jlynn62511]

I learned a lot from babysitting throughout middle school and high school.
Being a teacher and seeing other how other parents parent. You learn a lot!!

[toratoratori]

Why is there no option for "I don't?"

[blinkme182]

"winging it" should be an option

[beachdreamer]

I don't!!!

[gahorseygal]

All of the internet. Google, y'all, blogs, asking facebook...etc.

[joshan1719]

I'm using things I picked up with my first, some things I've read here and there, but mostly I'm relying on instinct. What's great about that is I can't feel like I'm failing since I'm not doing what this book or that website told me to do, I'm doing what feels right and natural.

[laur110]

Jan 26, 2015 14:58:29 GMT -5 beachdreamer said:

I don't!!!

Exactly this! "I don't" was my first thought when I read the question.

[blckroses]

I needed a "I have no idea what I'm doing" option.
But DH and I do google things all the time. Like "How do I know if my baby is teething" "How much should my baby be sleeping" and "How much breastmilk should I send my baby to daycare with".

[gingy]

I majored in child development and elementary ed, so I have a lot of theory based knowledge that actually isn't very practical. I'm finding I know too much about what "should" be happening or what I "should" be doing its hard to make decisions. So far it's a lot of throwing things at the wall and seeing what sticks. Fake it til ya make it might be the new family motto.
I feel this overwhelming pressure not to screw her up completely. It's a lot easier to be decisive in a paper or in a parent teacher conference, but now that it's my kid it's just a whole different story.

[redhorizon343]

Jan 26, 2015 14:58:29 GMT -5 beachdreamer said:

I don't!!!

^^^This

[mrsnorris]

Jan 26, 2015 16:54:18 GMT -5 gingy said:

I majored in child development and elementary ed, so I have a lot of theory based knowledge that actually isn't very practical. I'm finding I know too much about what "should" be happening or what I "should" be doing its hard to make decisions. So far it's a lot of throwing things at the wall and seeing what sticks. Fake it til ya make it might be the new family motto.
I feel this overwhelming pressure not to screw her up completely. It's a lot easier to be decisive in a paper or in a parent teacher conference, but now that it's my kid it's just a whole different story.

Not practical??  I make most of my decisions with LO based on Vygotskian zones of proximal development!