What makes one a parent? Is it biology?
Is it the nurturing instinct or love and care for the child? These are questions that have existed for eons, but are coming more into focus in recent times, given that the definition of what a family is has been undergoing a slow yet steady shift. Over the last decade, we’ve seen a growth in what can be termed non-traditional or “different” types of parents – single parents due to separation and divorce, blended families when previously married people with children remarry, adoptive parents, and also single women and men who’ve chosen to become a solo parent.
The Modern Family: What makes a family today?
While in India, the norm is still of a two parent family, of a mom and a dad, who choose to have a child within the confines of marriage, there are more stories coming to light of single parenting – by choice. Whether for millennials choosing to remain single and unmarried, or slightly older folks in their late 30's or early 40's for whom a wedding just hasn’t happened, maybe due to a focus on career or never quite meeting the right person, parenthood is no longer a closed door. Women who’ve chosen motherhood without a partner in their lives, using in vitro or having found themselves pregnant, have decided to embrace that role as single moms.
Changing social mores and demographics have opened those once closed doors, with women working and earning enough to support a child as a single parent, and the options for day care and schools have also multiplied to make this a workable endeavour for Indian women. And the reaction of school principals and teachers too, is slowly shifting – no longer do they look quite as askance in the big cities, when a woman is a single/unmarried/ adoptive parent.
Being an Adoptive Parent
This story is from the September - October 2016 edition of ParentEdge.
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This story is from the September - October 2016 edition of ParentEdge.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Releasing Your Teens From Internet Lockdown
The new normal demands a large chunk of time to be spent online. For teenagers, time spent in online classes, assignments, project work, homework, tests and exams - all these add up to many hours a day, glued to screens. Furthermore, the current generation's usage of social media and online gaming is increasing day by day. So is parental anxiety about their children's wellbeing. How do parents help their teens and themselves?
Helping Children Manage Big Emotions
Parenting is a roller-coaster ride filled with loads of fun as well as moments where we feel as if we are walking on eggshells. When our child has an outburst, we either make frantic attempts to soothe them or end up having a fit ourselves. Though it appears as if we are stumbling in the dark when it comes to understanding our child's emotions, there is still hope. When armed with information about how to help them deal with their emotional challenges, we will be able to sit back and enjoy this ride. Read on.
HANDLING Fussy Eaters
Fussy eating is a part of normal childhood development — how we handle it will influence our children's future eating habits. Many mothers struggle with their children's eating habits. Some children are fussy eaters, while others are not as troublesome; so is fussy eating something to do with the child, or parents, or both? There is no one right answer, but there are things we can do so as to not fuel this problem further. Read on for some tips on dealing with your child's fussy eating.
DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES: 6 TO 16 YEARS
As parents, we eagerly look for the early milestones in our child's life - the first step, the first word. There are other equally important markers, rites of passage into independence, when our children are primary schoolers, adolescents or teens. What are these? When do these typically happen? What should a parent be watchful about? Read on. A child learns to ride a bicycle A teenager takes the local train by himself for parents, these milestones are as important as teaching opportunities as they are occasions to rejoice (with a sense of apprehension, of course). Let us examine some of these:
Cooking up stories together
Children and stories go together like birds and the open sky. Stories offer a place to soar uninhibited and unrestrained in their flights of imagination.
Books for Children
Book Reviews
Preventing Obesity In Children
Obesity in childhood has wide-ranging consequences hypertension, cardiac issues, emotional disturbances such as inappropriate behaviour, relationship problems, depression or an inability to learn.
Managing Exam Stress With Ayurveda
Stress and anxiety could hinder the thinking capability of students, especially in the times of pandemic when there is so much uncertainty around. For teenagers, appearing for exams is not just about the exam preparation but also about taking all the necessary precaution to safeguard their health. Read on.
Safety Products for Children
It is an undeniable fact that young children are our greatest treasure. The way they are nurtured and protected will have a huge impact on their future as well as society as a whole. So, is it not our foremost duty to safeguard them? Of course it is. That’s why we have featured below a list of products that will not only ensure your child’s physical safety but also give you peace of mind!
Boosting Immunity In Children
Children who learn to love physical activity in all of its forms will grow up to be adults who are active.
