Although at times we feel alienated when caring for a young child, we do not parent in a vacuum. 

Who supports you in your parenting goals?

Each of my children were carefully and lovingly planned, but the moment that pregnancy test turned out positive, the excitement was immediately mixed with worry and doubt: I was doing the right thing for my family, right? 

When my first daughter was born, I was young, newly married, and living in a new city with no friends and no family. Even though my husband was and always has been very supportive, I knew I needed help.

Who gives you the support you need to be the parent you want to be?

There is something so fun about watching my older children mimic my parenting approach with their younger siblings.

What benefits do your children get from having siblings, even if they don’t always get along? What are moments of connection they do have?

I have a new baby in my family. He is now 17 months old. My last baby was born 10 years earlier. The baby before this baby was born two years prior to my second. My older children are ages 11 and 13.

How do you follow your child's lead in your parenting?

Nurturings tucks the research-based Eight Principles of Parenting into 3 parenting skills that academic literature shows are irreducible requirements for children to flourish.

When have you shared time together with your child today?

Celebrate with us this month with a "walk" through Nurturings' last 30 years with daily posts on our Facebook page!

On this 30th anniversary year of Nurturings, the co-founders share about our organization’s history and impact on the wider culture

My 5-year-old is happy as long as she's around me. As a baby, she would spend all day content in a sling that I wore.

In what way is your child lovingly unique? How can you let your child know you love and appreciate him or her?

How often are you off in another world when you are with your child? We all struggle to give our children enjoyable, undivided time together with us.

Let's begin by taking a deep breath.

My nearly 3-year-old daughter knows what she wants and wants it "right now, Mama, right now!" She has also been involved in some "push and shove" dialogues with other children. The immediacy of her needs is expressed verbally with as much drama and whine as she can muster and is occasionally punctuated with a push or kick, especially when the other person isn't doing what she wants.

How do you help your child resolve a playdate misunderstanding?

I found that building a relationship with my babies was easy. All I needed to do was cuddle, feed, and care for them. Naturally as my children grew, our relationship grew. I saw that what we did together as a family were ways for my husband and I to share our family values and stay connected over time.

What traditions and stories do you honor, share, and create as a family?