I remember when my daughter was born, later my son. According to many well meaning individuals, I should've done this, should've done that and maybe improved in some areas. Most times I appreciated their pearls of parenting classes because they made sense. At other times the line dividing the 'yes we can talk about this' crossed over into 'the no go zone' and I would bristle and spit like an angry cat! In the end, for my sanity, I did it my way.

I returned to the workforce within 12 months after each pregnancy, and every time I found I was in conflict with me. One part of me wanted to get out there again, and the other didn't want to leave my children. Although I was getting my life back, inwardly I still wondered whether I was doing the right thing or not. I worked through it with the support and parenting classes of very dear friends and now am glad I did things the way I did. I'm proud to say my children have turned out to be exceptional individuals who love me as much as I love them.

The following worked extremely well for me and may also do likewise for you:

1. Take the words of others in good grace - accept what you know will be the most congruent for yourself and family. At the end of the day, friends, parenting classes  and other family members who give advice on how you should be doing it, live under a different roof.

2. If confused about all the parenting classes you receive from others, take some time to ask yourself "what is important to me in all this?"

3. Do yourself a favor - arm yourself with the knowledge that if you join parenting classes or socialize with others, there will be times you're going to receive unsolicited advice. Just smile and nod.

4. If you find yourself in states of hopelessness, sadness, and gloom you're unable to shake regardless of what you do - seek help from professionals. I had post natal depression with both my children and it wasn't until I actually started to receive the parenting classes I needed that I could finally see the light around me.

5. Make a list of three different things you do each day that create anxiety for you. When you're done, put your list away and come back to it later. Once you read the list again, check if you still feel the same about the three points. If you do, brainstorm a few parenting classes on how you could do things differently. If the points no longer having pulling power and you're OK with it - congratulate yourself!

6. Start a meditation program. Use this opportunity for some 'me time'. If you're new to parenting classes, there are some great how to books out there, CD's and meditation workshops. There's even an e-book titled 'Book of 10 Color Meditation Scripts' so you can record your voice using these scripts written by yours truly.

7. Slowly start doing some of the parenting classes you used to prior to baby arriving - it is possible. Start with the absolute smallest and gradually work your way up. I started writing bits of poetry, and lists, I often wrote lists and loved it.

8. Enjoy and make the very most of this precious time because it will pass much too quickly. Although a grandmother now, I still remember the day my daughter and son was born. It's as clear as if parenting classes happened yesterday.

http://www.michaelascherr.com