Most parents do not know that parenting has three phases, hence, they make serious mistakes when performing the most noble but thankless profession in the world PARENTING.

 In this piece I will open your eyes to the three phases of parenting, so as to teach you how to make the most of your motherhood and fatherhood.

Phase One: CHILD BEARING

 This starts from when a mature man and woman come together in an act of love to produce a child, which may then lead to pregnancy.

 The nine months it takes to carry the baby involves both the woman who carries the baby in her womb and her husband who carries the baby in his heart.

 This phase involves early pregnancy challenges, morning sickness, nausea, scans, antenatal visits and classes, first, second and third trimester, labour and child delivery.

 This phase can be difficult for some women, but as difficult as it may be, it is a phase all mothers must pass through to raise a child and bring forth a living being.

 This phase tends to need less teaching for young parents compared to other phases, it looks as if everybody can do it, most boys and girls from the age of fifteen are equipped enough for child bearing but not the second and third phase.

 Most young couples going to the altar to get married this Saturday are only ready for the first phase of parenting.

 All animals in the bush go through the phase one of parenting, you don’t need to be human to do it, no thinking is required for phase one of parenting, most people do this perfectly.

 The real parenting work is not in phase one, it starts from phase two.

 Phase Two: CHILD REARING

This phase starts immediately the baby comes from the womb, child bearing has ended, phase two has started.

 It involves nursing, nurturing, caring, protecting, providing and tendering the new born, it is a twenty four hours job, no leave, no vacation, no break, it is hard work, it is not meant for lazy people.

 The baby will need food, breast feeding, will cry unnecessarily, wakes up many times in the night to suck, will wet his nappy several times a day and whine when you really want to enjoy your peace, welcome to the world of child rearing.

 This is the period the hands must rock the cradle, it is time to sing lullaby even if you have the coarsest voice in the world, it is the phase to know the best Crèche around and get to know where the best nursery school is located.

 Mothers of the young mothers are known to come to help and train new mothers in act of child rearing and this normally helps to put new mothers through.

While the  phase one does not need serious training, young couples tend to get help from elderly ones and their own parents, to see them through at phase two, but phase three which is the most important is known to be left to chances.

 As difficult as phase two may seem, it is still easier than the third phase, that is why we need to learn a little about this phase.

Phase Three: CHILD TRAINING

This is the most important phase of parenting, this phase determines the future and destiny of a child and how he or she will live throughout life, only few children are known to overcome the problems gotten from zero or bad training throughout their lives. That is why God specifically commanded the parent to train their child, he didn’t make child bearing and reading a command, but training is a command,

   “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6 KJV)

Dear parent, your real work is at phase three. In this phase you cannot afford to fail, you cannot afford to leave the destiny of your children to chances. TRAIN YOUR CHILDREN

 This training would usually involve,

 (1)Teaching your children manners, good attitude, patriotism etc.

 (2)Correction

 (3)Discipline

 (4) Playing with them

 (5) Motivating your children

 (6) Praying for them

 (7) Telling them stories

 (8) Practically helping them to become what God created them to be.

 (9) Practical demonstration of love to them

 (10) Provision of basic needs like food, shelter, good education, etc children should not be allowed at tender age to fend for themselves

About the Author

 Bisi Adewale is a family expert, author of best selling book, Secrets of an irresistible wife and as well as other books, get his resources and books at www.totalfamilylife.com