Parenting Classes?

[Christian4life]

Well, first off, this started as an answered prayer. Some of you may remember that a few months back I asked you all to pray for my husband’s friend and his fiance who might be pregnant.

So, I didn’t see or hear from them for months, and then finally we get a hold of them. She WAS pregnant. She DID go to the pro-life pregnancy center as we suggested, thank God. But I am very very angry and disappointed at that center now.

Cause they have this perfect baby girl now and they seem to have NO CLUE how to take care of her. From what I have seen they are nice people but AWFUL parents. Like, they don’t even seem to understand you are supposed to support the child’s head, they just let it droop back. They don’t let baby nap, etcetera.

I am really mad at the pregnancy center for not suggesting parenting classes! They also didn’t even refer her to an ob/gyn. So that she had to call around when she was already 18 weeks pregnant and NOBODY would take her on as a new patient. She was in tears thinking she was gonna die because no one would deliver her baby.

I’m just darn grateful she didn’t give up and go have the abortion after all!!!

So I hope you will all learn from my mistake and reccomend an ob/gyn or midwife instead of just pregnancy center!

Also I need to know if I want to refer them to parenting classes how would I go about it? What kind of place would offer free or low-cost parenting classes for a young person? Does anyone have any other advice??

I wish they would’ve just adopted the baby out! I know that sounds mean but I feel so sorry for her!!!

 

[Arlene]

Each county has its own name for the program, but I’ve heard them referred to as called Human Resources Council, Family and Child Referral Services, something like that. Where I live it is also the agency that helps people find referrals for home daycare providers, and help daycare providers get licensed. They usually offer a whole range of services including parenting classes.

If not, check with the agency that serves as Child Protective Services. They usually have parenting classes available. Many times people are mandated to attend parenting classes as part of the reunification process, but are usually open to anyone wanting to participate.

Check with Head Start. Some Head Start programs have what they call Early Head Start which starts with newborns. Head Start has a very strong parent education component. Here they even have home visitors who come to the house to do teaching.

Good luck. It sounds like your friends are willing to do the right thing. After all, she persevered in finding care for herself and the baby. Ignorance can be overcome if the heart is in the right place.

Arlene

 

[Mom_of_one]

Head Start is an excellent idea. I just spoke with a woman I know who heads up a Head Start program and she said that they can certainly help. Also, Catholic Charities has a parenting class(at least they do around here)

**Here’s an idea for you. Why don’t you call the pregnancy center and suggest that they offer them or at least recommend them(the parenting classes) **

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Until the can get into a parenting class, show them by example. ESPECIALLY with the supporting the baby’s head, but also anything that is of major importance(i.e. those things that could hurt the baby if not done right)

 

[Viki59]

Christian4Life,
It’s wonderful that this couple has your concern and support. While you’re trying to find parenting classes to recommend, maybe you could suggest/model some ideas of good parenting to them. I assume you’ve had experience with children.

New parents are usually open to advice if offered kindly. While you’re showing the mom how to support her baby’s head, I hope you’ll remind her how important it is never to shake a baby.

Before I had kids, I once asked a friend what would happen if you fed a child all it wanted to eat. (She had told her daughter no to cookies before dinner). She really looked at me funny, but gave a good answer.
Parenthood is a learned art.

 

[Christian4life]

Thank you all. That head start program sounds like a good idea.
The one really good thing in all this is that they don’t seem so opposed to accepting help.

As for being a good example, my only child is 1 so obviously doesn’t need her head supported. I TRIED to tell them to support thier child’s head, but they just said, “Oh she’s fine. She can hold it up by herself.” Right, at 2 weeks old. Riiiiight, sure didn’t look like it to me. I even took the baby and rocked her to sleep because they wouldn’t leave her alone and let her nap, and she was soo tired. But as soon as she was asleep the dad came over and started talking SO LOUDLY that it woke her up, even though I was pointing at her and shushing him. I got the feeling that he didn’t quite grasp the concept he was supposed to be quiet around sleeping infants.

I THINK she is taking a nutrition class because she’s on WIC, which doesn’t seem to help much as she is already giving the child juice and drinking a lot of caffiene while breastfeeding. I guess I’m just praying that something will sink in.

As for the pregnancy center, I’ve decided to wait until I cool off a little before I call or write. I don’t want to sound like I’m totally ticked with them (even though I am). Or I might have my husband do it when he gets a chance, since he is a much less emotional sort of person, and he is the one who’s been donating to them so I think they would care more what he has to say.