Long Term Commitment and Parenting
In many personal or social lives, having a family is often to be a life goal or being a set of expectations. It sometimes includes having offspring and raising them. Parenting is a life-long commitment because even when separation happens, the relationship between parents and child does not end.
Here are other reasons why parenting is a long-term commitment:
- Children deserve parents’ commitment on their lives
- Parents and family are the central significance on children’s live
- Children values support and love from their parents
- Parenting have a big impact on children’s attitudes and long-term behavior
- Parenting plays an important role on children’s well-being
General Responsibility of A Parent
The idea of having kids can bring colors into life, yet we might need to signal ourselves that being a parent can be challenging as well. There will be a lot of teamwork and managing effective communication between parents to raise the children together. Parenting is one of the most significant developmental stages in adulthood because parents need to find balance between work and their role in family.
For more information about kinds of family relationships and parenting styles, check out our family article here.
In general, parents have some duties and responsibilities for their roles such as:
- To protect their children from harm
- Providing nurture: children’s basic needs (food, medical care, a place to live, clothing, etc.), attention, support, acceptance, understanding, and last but not least, to give love
- Providing structure: use discipline, set limits, give direction, teach responsible behavior and values. Things that need to be taught as parents expecting behavior changes and increased growth, maturity, and ability in their children
Risks of Too Early Child Bearing And Closely Spaced Births
Pregnancy in an early age may have many risks and consequences. Besides physical risk, it may lead to other risks in psychological and social economic aspects.
We will take a closer look on these risks that could appear in prenatal, during, and post maternity:
- Physical Risks: pregnant women under 20 year old may experience worse health conditions such as bleeding during pregnancy (haemorrhage), preeclampsia, hypertensive disorder (toxaemia), prolonged and difficult labor, severe anaemia, and disability.
- Psychological Risks: high rate of distress, baby blues, depression both prenatal and postpartum, suicidal thoughts, substance use, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
- The Social-Economic Risks: difficulties to attend class or to complete study that can jeopardize future education and work opportunities. This can lead to an unstable economy and marriage. The social aspect also includes stigma, rejection, and violence from the surrounding such as family and partner.
Important note that early pregnancy does not only affect the mother but also the child. Children that were born from early pregnancy may also suffer premature birth and have low birth weight which is associated with birth injuries, serious childhood illness, mental and physical disabilities. Maternal depression or postpartum depression the mother experiences could also cause the child to develop insecure attachment.
Closely spaced births whether because of unintended pregnancy or by choice, may put the child into greater risks of health conditions. Some risks that might occur such as premature birth, low birth weights, and indicator of hypoxic condition. One of the research in this topic reported that a child born with a pregnancy space of <1 year apart from the previous child potentially carries a greater risk of developing autism.
If you or anyone you know are going through early pregnancy, it might be a good idea to talk to the professional for consultation or find support from the health community. Another way you can find support is from family or closed ones you feel safe and comfortable with.
Click here to see the list of support you can find just a call away.
