From Wikipedia on 10-Feb-2013
Parenting (or child rearing) is the process of promoting and supporting the physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development of a child from infancy to adulthood. Parenting refers to the aspects of raising a child aside from the biological relationship.
Parenting is usually done by the biological parents of the child in question, although governments and society take a role as well. In many cases, orphaned or abandoned children receive parental care from non-parent blood relations. Others may be adopted, raised in foster care, or placed in an orphanage.
Stresses of role transition
In 1968, Alice Rossi identified five stresses involved in entering parenthood:
1. Irreversibility speaks to the issue that unlike other roles, one cannot easily leave parenthood once a child is born.
2. Lack of Preparation is exactly what it says. There is absolutely no way to plan for and practice parenting until you have a child in your arms to take care of constantly.
3. Idealization and Romanticization is the issue that if and when the reality of being a parent turns out to be different than what is expected, it is easy for new parents to become frustrated and disappointed in their new roles.
4. Suddenness addresses the issue that regardless of months of pregnancy, an individual goes from being a non-parent to a parent the moment that childbirth occurs and with that is the same suddenness of the responsibilities that go along with it.
5. Role Conflict is felt when the parental role affects all other roles that are held by the individual. It is sometimes difficult to manage all roles which can lead to stress and unhealthy coping.
Changes with the arrival of children
Five domains of change have been identified in new parents by Carolyn and Phillip Cowan with the arrival of new children.
1. Identity and inner life changes is when parents no longer only think of themselves. Priorities and personal values change with an addition of a child in their life.
2. Shifts within marital roles and relationships are changes in how couples divide tasks and responsibilities. Because of the fatigue associated with new children relationship quality may diminish.
3. Shifts in intergenerational relationships occur when becoming new parents alters the relationship between themselves and their own parents.
4. Changes in roles and relationships outside of the family is when becoming a new parent changes relationships at work or in friendships. New children hold all priority and so other aspects of life and relationships are sometimes put on hold or the relationship is altered.
5. New parenting roles and relationships is the agreeable division of childcare among partners.