The Ultimate List Of Parenting Skills That Will Make You An Effective Parent

The term ‘opportunity cost’ is never more relevant than to a working parent. If you decide to stay at home, the opportunity cost is, of course, less money. If you choose to go to work, the opportunity cost is probably less time with your kids, but here the opportunity benefits are more money, more freedom and better financial prospects for your family.

Start off by finding what's best for you and your family – perhaps part-time is sufficient or maybe full-time is the thing for you. Think about how you feel satisfied as an individual: full-time motherhood or full-time working isn’t suitable for everyone. You may need to try a few different options before you exactly know what you’re comfortable with. If you do opt to work, familiarize yourself with using a w4 tax calculator. It will make things easier when the tax man comes knocking.

Sure it feels great to be a supermom and do everything yourself for your little bundle of joy, but if you stay on the same track for long, you’re likely to end up doing all the work yourself. To be precise, do not forget to get your husband in on the game and the most useful thing you can do for yourself is to get your baby's father involved right from the start in the care and feeding.

If your husband is brave enough to shoulder some of the burdens of those middle-of-the-night wake-up calls, then let him take care of it, you'll be in better shape when you have to perform at work tomorrow, this may not solve the problem entirely, but it helps.

Try talking to your husband and explain him the troubles you go through as you look after the office and the baby all by yourself. Together you need to get systems in place to guarantee the smooth running of a household – it may not look spotless, but it will be happy, and you and your partner will feel pride for contributing every little now and then to the way it runs.

Good, reliable childcare is a must. Start surveying daycare centers and interviewing nannies well before you start working. This helps in developing confidence and trust in your childcare provider as it will definitely make those first days a little easier.

I recommend hiring nannies with a track record of long-term commitments to families. This shows they are highly experienced and are adaptable to various age groups, from the delicate caring of newborns to helping older children with their homework, a good nanny should have it all covered.

(Via Tomcopelandblog.com)

I also encourage families to plan a paid playdate with the candidates, because "this playdate (approx two to four hours) allows the family to assess how the nanny interacts with the child in a less formal surrounding." Extensive experience, excellent references, and a record to prove it are essential for a good childcare provider plus a good daycare facility should have flexible hours, a low teacher-to-student ratio, outdoor area, valid licenses, and employees with transparent backgrounds.

Stay connected with your baby/children even when you're not together. For parents with younger kids, try recording yourself talking or singing on a video, or you can record your voice reading along to a children's story.

If unfortunately, you're going to miss or be late to an older child's occasion, give them something special in the morning, like a little good-luck charm or a personal handwritten note.

Try to look into options for filming the entire event so you can watch it later and not miss a moment, hang out pictures of yourself and your partner so the kids can see your faces every once a while. During your breaks at work, call your child; hearing them can ease you up a rough day, and they’ll be comforted to know that you're near.

Be disciplined and set up proper time limits when checking email or making phone calls, all the things you can do when the kids are sleeping. Reduce TV watching to a minimum say once a week to maximize time with your partner during the evenings. Avoid multitasking, especially when you are spending time with your children as this could turn out disastrous, leaving your kids and you unhappy. At your workplace, try to avoid wasting time. But Of course you want to have a rapport with co-workers, but continuous email exchanges, long Internet surfing, gossiping, and big lunches are obvious distractions that will make you less productive. Focus primarily on your tasks at work and try to keep the chit chat during breaks or lunchtime.

After managing your time wisely, you can fit in precious "me" time regularly. A refreshing break will definitely help you recharge while taking care of personal needs, how? "Because your entire time is divided between your home and your career, be sure to manage your energy well. You can't be an effective spouse or parent if you're cranky all the time. So take some time out to care for yourself to feel relaxed and effective", try out things that really comforts you, like Lose yourself in a book before you go to sleep, or take a bubble bath once a week, treat yourself to a day at the spa. Fit in some time for exercise (a yoga class maybe) or focus on a hobby that brings you joy. Most importantly remember to eat well and get plenty of rest -- simple things that even the smartest moms neglect.

An important reminder; When you do have family outings, please avoid talking about work or checking your phone as this may have an unpleasant effect on your child. Instead, focus on your kids and their interests such as friends, classes, and hobbies. With older children, you can ask for their activity suggestions as well try to meet their needs. In the end, it doesn't really matter what you do as long as you’re having fun and doing it together.