Parents and Parenting

Information for New Parents:

Why in the world don't new babies come with instructions? Fortunately, here in El Dorado County there are quite a few resources available to help. Here's how to find them:

1) Parenting classes are offered in a number of settings throughout the county. Suggested places to look include: Marshall Hospital, local churches and synagogues, adult education centers and community colleges. With all of the resources available on this subject, you're bound to find what you are looking for if you take a little bit of time to look around.

3) Check out the Familyhood Education Foundation's website at http://www.familyhood.com for a wide selection of resources, including free parenting classes and seminars.

Besides the organized classes, there is one very important thing to remember. The most important thing you can give your child is a strong marriage for yourself. So don't neglect your marriage for the sake of your child; in the long run that approach will not pay off for you, your spouse, or your child. Studies show that the level of Marital Satisfaction often falls when a new child enters a household. Protect against this by acting proactively. One resource we strongly recommend is a book entiled "Becoming Parents - How to Strengthen Your Marriage as Your Family Grows", by Drs. Pamela Jordan, Scott Stanley, and Howard Markman.

"Here is a description of the book: Not just another parenting book - "Becoming Parents" teaches newborn parents to take good care of each other! Based on cutting-edge research on the experiences of men and women as they become parents and what makes happy healthy marriages, "Becoming Parents" is truly a survival course for couples. Within these pages expectant couples will discover the keys to taking care of themselves as individuals, taking care of their couple relationship, relating to their baby, and dealing with the many ways becoming parents impacts their lives".

The peculiar challenges of stepfamilies are alos adressed on this page. Especially note: Yours, Mine, and Ours, and Designing Dynamic Stepfamilies: Bringing the Pieces to Peace.

For all parents:

Children change couple dynamics and relationships. An online resource for help in strengthing parent's relationships is: http://thecoupleconnection.net/.

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Marriage Class Online

Online course for a general audience: families, young relationships, long-term relationships, singles

http://www.marriageclassonline.com/