What's one thing that makes you a good parent?

HammyD · November 2010

I feel good about taking DD on daily walks and talking to her about her surroundings.

carlylaura · November 2010

I quit my job to stay home and raise my LO even though we are struggling with $$$. I'd rather have less money and be able to raise my child.

HammyD · November 2010

carlylaura:
I quit my job to stay home and raise my LO even though we are struggling with $$$. I'd rather have less money and be able to raise my child.

It is so worth it. We're making it work too.

jamato1 · November 2010

I love him more than anything in the world

carlylaura · November 2010

HammyD:

carlylaura:
I quit my job to stay home and raise my LO even though we are struggling with $$$. I'd rather have less money and be able to raise my child.

It is so worth it. We're making it work too.

I know, it's all about the baby now. I have learned to live with a lot less now. It's amazing how much "stuff" I can now live without.

HammyD · November 2010

So what are you doing differently for the Christmas season, if you don't mind me asking? We opted out of a few gift exchanges but are still doing gifts for immediate family.

MrsMommyQ · November 2010

carlylaura:
HammyD:

carlylaura:
I quit my job to stay home and raise my LO even though we are struggling with $$$. I'd rather have less money and be able to raise my child.

It is so worth it. We're making it work too.

I know, it's all about the baby now. I have learned to live with a lot less now. It's amazing how much "stuff" I can now live without.

ALL of the above is so true for me too.

What also makes me a good parent = patience. IRL I'm not the most patient person, but with DD I have infinite amounts of patience. She is a very easygoing baby which also helps, but I rarely get frustrated.

jennygirlmt · November 2010

carlylaura:
I quit my job to stay home and raise my LO even though we are struggling with $$$. I'd rather have less money and be able to raise my child.

this, I loved my job and was offered a promotion when I returned (to give my two weeks), the sacrifice is worth it. And also meeting her every need. We snuggle, kiss, hug, read, nurse all day long and I know that's why she is such a joyful baby.

jennygirlmt · November 2010

HammyD:
So what are you doing differently for the Christmas season, if you don't mind me asking? We opted out of a few gift exchanges but are still doing gifts for immediate family.

we couldn't get out of our exchanges but got them to lower the limits and we are cashing on our credit card points for gift cards to places like best buy. We also aren't buying much for DD (probably one or two things just to have something from us

carlylaura · November 2010

jennygirlmt:
carlylaura:
I quit my job to stay home and raise my LO even though we are struggling with $$$. I'd rather have less money and be able to raise my child.
this, I loved my job and was offered a promotion when I returned (to give my two weeks), the sacrifice is worth it. And also meeting her every need. We snuggle, kiss, hug, read, nurse all day long and I know that's why she is such a joyful baby.

That is so sweet! Glad to hear you made the sacrifice to stay home with your baby. Material things are way over rated! I'd much rather have experiences in life with my LO than material posessions.

GreenieTA11 · November 2010

How about the fact that I get up before dawn and bust my ass at work?! Then come home and only get 30-45 minutes with DH who then goes to work himself until midnight?! By the time he comes home, I'll have been asleep at least 2 hours. We get one whole day off a week together. Out of the remaining 6 days, we get one morning and one evening.

Randy'sgirl52409 · November 2010

I don't expect her to be perfect, I give her my undivided attention, love her unconditionally and teach her all I know even if she can't understand the words right now.

jen_jupiter · November 2010

GreenieTA:

How about the fact that I get up before dawn and bust my ass at work?! Then come home and only get 30-45 minutes with DH who then goes to work himself until midnight?! By the time he comes home, I'll have been asleep at least 2 hours. We get one whole day off a week together. Out of the remaining 6 days, we get one morning and one evening.

This. DH and I pretty much work opposite shifts so DS doesn't have to be away from us both for too long/too often. We both work 12's, we both work a lot of nights. I've gone with only 4 total hours of sleep during a 48hr period a few different times now. Oh, and I'm still pumping to keep my supply up when DS and I are apart even though I sometimes don't even get my milk to let down at all when I pump! I just keep trying so that we don't have to buy and feed him formula.