Oh, Baby!

by Youngs, Bettie B.

• ISBN13: 9781571745033
• ISBN10: 1571745033
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-06-15
• Publisher: Hampton Roads Pub Co Inc

Summary

Parenting

Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS	xvii
INTRODUCTION: Having a Baby Will Change Your Life!	xix
ONE. A Baby Will Open Your Heart...Like No Other Love Can or Ever Will	1	(28)
4 Ways A BABY WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PERILS OF LOVE
You'll Learn the Meaning of Sacrificial Love
You'll Shoulder Enormous Responsibility
Your Child's Welfare Will Always Lie Heavy on Your Heart
You Can and Will Feel Disappointed at Times
5 Ways A BABY WILL BRING MORE LOVE INTO YOUR LIFE
You'll Receive Unconditional Love
You'll Become a More Compassionate and Loving Person
Your Love for Your Partner Will Grow
You'll Share a Common Bond with Other Parents
You'll Love the Little Things in Life
TWO. A Child Helps You Develop a Durable, Reliable—and Authentic—Sense of Self	29	(34)
6 Ways A BABY WILL CHALLENGE THE WAY YOU SEE YOURSELF
You'll Feel Incompetent: Every Day Is Like the First Day at a New Job
Neuroses Will Appear, Self-Doubt Will Rule the Day, and You'll Become an Obsessive-Compulsive!
You'll Wish You Had an M.D. in Pediatric Medicine, a Ph.D. in Child Psychology...and a Free Ticket to Maui!
You'll Miss Your Freedom—"Will There Ever Be Time Just for Me?"
You'll Have to Learn How to Cope with Tedious, Mundane, and Boring Tasks
You'll Have to Act Like a Grown-Up
6 Ways A BABY WILL CHANGE YOU FOR THE BETTER
You'll Feel Complete...and Your Heart Will Be Full
You'll Discover the Greatest Love of Your Life
Your Life Will Be Filled with Meaning
You'll See Life through the Eyes of a Child Again
You'll Develop a Most Spectacular—and Comprehensive—Skillset
You'll Never Feel Alone—or Lonely
THREE. Love, Marriage, and a Baby Carriage: Surviving and-Thriving as a Couple	63	(32)
5 Ways A BABY WILL ADD CHALLENGE, CHANGE, AND CHAOS TO YOUR MARRIAGE
Sleep Deprivation Will Take a Toll on Your Patience
Intimacy Will Suffer (It's Mostly "Quickies" from Here on Out!)
Independence Will Be Curtailed—in Other Words, You'll Be Grounded
"Just the Two of Us" Will Be History
Everything Will Be about the Baby!
4 Ways A BABY WILL CHANGE YOUR MARRIAGE FOR THE BETTER
You'll Realize the Fulfillment of a Dream
You'll Establish a Bond That Will Forever Link You Together
A Baby Will Take Your Relationship to a Whole New Level of Commitment
From "My Husband/Wife and I" to "My Family": A Baby Makes a Family
FOUR. Making a Living and Raising a Child A Baby Will" Change Your Views—and Goals—on Both	95	(32)
6 Ways A BABY WILL COMPLICATE YOUR WORKING LIFE
Your Time Will No Longer Be Your Own
You'll Miss the "Atta-Boys/-Girls"
Finding Balance Will Be Tough—and Maybe Impossible
You're Going to Need (Good) Career Planning
There's a Good Chance You'll Need to Redo the Budget
Not Home Alone: You'll Feel Like You're "Not Working...Just Home with the Kids"
4 Ways A BABY WILL ENHANCE YOUR WORK LIFE
You'll Find That Having a Family Is Very Motivating!
You May Very Well Be a Better Manager
You'll Have "New and Improved" Priorities
You'll Bring a Deeper Sense of Self to Your Work (and Goals)
FIVE. A Baby Creates Family Ties—and Bonds That Bind	127	(26)
4 Ways A BABY WILL TEST AND CHALLENGE YOUR FAMILY TIES
You'll Get (Overrated) Unsolicited Advice!
Family Dynamics Will Change—and Not All Changes Will Be for the Better!
Your Obligations to Family Members Will Increase
A Baby Is Sure to Be a Source of Sibling Rivalry
4 Ways A BABY WILL ENHANCE AND ENRICH YOUR FAMILY TIES
You'll Have a Family for Your Child
You Can Count on Your Family to Be There for Your Child
A Child Can Enrich, Even Mend, Relationships
A Child Can Give You More in Common with Family Members
SIX. A Baby Will Cause You to Examine Your Beliefs—and Question Your Faith	153	(24)
4 Ways A BABY WILL PUT YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE TO THE TEST
A Baby Will Cause You to Question the Role of Faith in Your Life
Faith May Get Put on the Back Burner
You May Expect Too Much from God
You May Feel As If You "Don't Have Time" for God
5 Ways A BABY WILL ENHANCE YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE
You'll Feel the Need to Say "Thank You for This Amazing Gift!"
You'll Feel the Need to Provide Your Child with a Moral, Spiritual Upbringing
You'll Pray More
You'll Feel as Though the Raising of Your Child Is Being Shared by God
You'll Believe in Innocence Again
SEVEN. Friends and Your Baby: You'll- Make Many Friends...and Lose a Few!	177	(30)
5 Ways A BABY WILL CHALLENGE YOUR FRIENDSHIPS
You'll No Longer Be in Sync: Your Preoccupation with Your Child Will Not Be Shared by Friends
You'll Be Too Busy to Hang Out with Your Friends
Some Will Be Jealous That You're a Parent
You'll Feel Guilty That You Can't Always Be There for Your Friends
You'll Have to Listen to (a Lot of) One-Upmanship: "My Kid Did That Sooner Than Your Kid!"
5 Ways A BABY WILL ENHANCE AND ENCOURAGE YOUR FRIENDSHIPS
You'll Meet Tons of People—and Find That Sharing Parenthood Is a Great Foundation for Friendship
You'll Get More Breaks and Respect from Other Parents
You'll Value Friends—They're a Necessary Reprieve from the Demands of Parenting
You'll Benefit from the Experience and Advice Friends Give
Some Friends Will Become a Wonderful Part of Your Child's Life
A FINAL WORD FROM THE AUTHORS	207