In our journey as new parents, we have to assess ourselves well and determine what kind of parent we ought to be.
Should we be strict parents? Strict to the point of having your kid fear you? Strict that only your voice is heard and nobody else's opinion matter once your decision is made? Tough call. But for sure we don't want to be that strict a parent. We don't want our son fearing us. We want him to respect us as his parents, and learn the value of following our rules because he believes we know what's best for him.
Should we be the very kind ones who'd let their kid do whatever they wish to do? Be their bestfriend that sometimes there is no more line that distinguishes you as the parent? Of course we don't want to be too nice. They may end up not listening to you. They may have a bestfriend but there is that chance that they may no longer see you as the authority that you ought to be. We don't want to take that chance.
So what kind of parents are we? The strict bestfriend we suppose. We are trying to be that parent in the middle. One who builds enough trust by letting our son feel that we are always there to support him but letting him feel as well that when he does something wrong we won't tolerate it. We cuddle him, we play with him, we make him feel our love in every way possible. Yet we correct him as early as now by saying "NO" whenever it is needed.
There is no particular handbook on how to become a great parent. And you will only know you are a good one in how your kid is living his life. We are no perfect parents and we will never be one that's for sure. We just want to be the kind of parent that our son needs us to be.
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