Paper

Argument 2

The fear of being a parent is inevitable. Everyone experiences this fear in some capacity whether or not they are planning on having a child, or are even capable of it. Every couple experiencing their first pregnancy is thrown into the new role of ‘parent’. This can be extremely difficult, scary, and especially vulnerable. Most parents go through the same kind of fears and struggles. I believe that if we as a society were to put more resources into classes and promoting education for new parents as well as parents in general, then individuals would be significantly more comfortable and prepared for something as scary and important as parenting. Opening classes would be beneficial because it helps long term child and parent relationships, it would help both men and women learn how to move through pregnancy during/before/after, and parenting classes could help prepare us for the hard things our children will go through.

Opening up classes for parenting will help all parents have a much better relationship with their child. (Beth Mary Mann; Peggy T. Pearl; Pamela D. 2004) A study was conducted to see if educating parents actually had an impact on the parent’s relationship with their child. They wanted to see if parenting classes had a positive effect, negative effect, or no effect at all. In the study, the testers had parents of all ages come and be educated in basic parenting skills and other things that could help raise their child better. Over time, the testers began to notice that children of the parents were beginning to have positive differences in their behavior. The parents and children’s relationship had been improving because the parents weren’t as stressed due to the parenting classes. One of the key factors with the classes is that they will be a huge stress reliever. Teaching parents how to parent will make them in a better mood and more patient and knowledgeable when it comes to taking care of their child. These classes can help every parent have an understanding on how to parent effectively without always being stressed on if they’re doing the right thing. If the parents aren’t stressed, then their relationship is automatically going to be improved. Each couple will be working together in learning how to raise their child. Another big factor that will help parent and child relationships improve is educating the parents on pediatric and psychological care. (Roberta Mcabee. 1977) This is something you should be thinking about during your entire pregnancy. Many people don’t know a lot about how to find a good doctor, what signs to look for if your baby is sick, what your insurance can cover with medical expenses...etc. If you don’t have good insurance and your child gets really ill, there is a good chance you are either going to struggle financially or your child is going to struggle a lot physically. Educating parents on finances and just how to find good insurances and good doctors can help them so much financially in the long run. It could even help save a child’s life. Many parents also don’t know a lot about child psychology and how the brain works. Child psychology isn’t ever the first thing I think of when I think of what to educate parents on to help better raise their children. However, thinking about it now teaching parents about child psychology and how their babies brain works could be one of the most beneficial things to do. Opening opportunities to help parents learn about child psychology will greatly increase the parent's knowledge in knowing how to treat their child. If someone can understand how a child thinks and what stage of brain development their brain is in, parents can have a much better scientific understanding and be more successful in raising them. If we opened classes for individuals to teach them these kinds of fundamentals on parenting, it could really help both them and their child.

Opening classes on parenting could help both men and women move through all stages of pregnancy more smoothly; Before, during, and after. Dealing with your first pregnancy is always terrifying to new parents. In fact, every child you have might be nerve wracking. You don’t only have during pregnancy to think about, but also before and after. There could always be so many things that could happen with the pregnancy. You have to keep everyones physical and mental/emotional health in mind. (The parents and the baby.) Educating parents about how to cope with all of the physical and emotional symptoms, and how to move through each stage of pregnancy could immensely help the parent’s health and journey through the pregnancy. Not everyone always thinks about the negative effects after pregnancy is over.One of the big things that happens with pregnancy that everyone needs to be aware of is postpartum depression. Many women suffer from postpartum depression (depression after pregnancy), and all women should have a professional educator present to help them learn, understand, and make it through postpartum depression. (Sharron Leung; David G. Arthur; Ian Martinson. August 2005) Having a professional educator to come visit parenting classes and educate women, and even men, who are close to giving birth could have a huge positive impact in the woman’s life. Many women experience the depression and they aren’t quite sure where it comes from and how to handle it. Having someone there to professionally educate you on why your brain and body change after pregnancy, and how to cope with it could improve women’s lives. After improving the mother’s life, the baby’s life is then improved and then the father (or other spouse) and so on. Education has a positive effect on many people. Another thing to think about when funding more parenting classes are men and women in prison who are pregnant or dealing with pregnancy. If anyone needs parenting classes, it’s going to be them. Everyone already feels upset and distant in prison. Many people aren’t close to their child because both the child and the parent aren’t sure how to successfully interact with each other. Opening up education classes about parenting in prisons will greatly increase the chance of an individual having a positive relationship with their child. (Joy Jarvis; Sally Graham; Penny Hamilton; Dena Tyler. 03 2004). Imagine if we could take every mom and dad in prison who is struggling. If we could just provide knowledge and support, their lives will be positively changed. Parents are everywhere and regardless of where they come from, everyone should have the right to access this kind of education.

We should open up parenting classes because parents will never be prepared what our children go through. Whether it be a scrape on the knee, a concussion, or cancer. No one knows exactly how to cope with traumatic and sudden events. We need to open up education classes for parents that educate them about how to prepare for these kind of events. One example of a subject we need to educate parents about is youth suicide. (S Maine; R. Shute; G. Martin. 2001. ) Suicide is always a touchy subject and not everyone directly experiences a suicide, but everyone will have to at least hear about it. In my life, I have gone through 3 people relatively close to me commit suicide, as well as dealing with my own depression. I can say that from my personal experience that I wish my parents knew more on what to do in those kinds of situations. I was very alone and didn’t really have anyone to talk to. I really believe that if we have this subject implemented into parenting classes, then it would greatly help the child and the parent for the future. Teaching parents about youth suicide will help them know what to say to their own children and what to do if/when it comes up. It could also help take preventative measures. Children will always be less likely to commit suicide if they have a good relationship with their parents/family. Educating parents on how to develop a good relationship with their child could prevent something fatal. Also, educating parents about how to cope if your own child commits suicide. Suicide effects everyone so deeply. I myself struggled to cope when I was the friend of who committed suicide. Parents whose children who commit suicide need so much more help. I saw in my own experience that the women of deceased daughters got together to talk about it and help each other cope through what they both dealt with. The two mothers became friends and helped each other know how to cope. If we created an opportunity for mothers and fathers to come together and learn and be educated then they can also become each other's support. . Another event that could happen is chronic illness. Educational support classes on how to cope with a chronic illness would be greatly beneficial to both the child and the parent. (Debra A. Major. February 2003) Any illness is hard to go through, especially if it’s chronic. All of these experiences can be so traumatic and hard. Providing a family with a class on how to better cope with these things could be helpful. As I said before, doing classes like these can create a sort of support group for these parents as they learn how to move through what they’re experiencing. These classes can only have positive effects.

Parenting classes would have so many benefits for so many people. Parents come from everywhere, all races, all ages, all places, all kinds of people. There are so many people we can help educate if we raised awareness and put efforts into an education system. Parenting classes would be so beneficial because it helps with child and parent growth, it would help couples go through all stages of pregnancy, and classes could help prepare parents for traumatic events their child may go through. If we spent more money on educating people on how to raise a child and what you can do to help raise them successfully, then there would be so many more successful children in the world. It would lead to better chances in college, a happier home life, and even just understanding how to develop good relationships with people. This kind of education will help everyone, not just the parents. Parenting is one thing that school never prepared you for, so why don’t we add in some new education?

Annotated Bibliography

1) Beth Lockhart. 1982. “When couples adopt they too need parenting classes.” The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing. Vol 7(2), pp116-118.

2) Roberta Mcabee. 1977. “Rural parenting classes: Beginning to meet the need.” The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing. Vol 2(5), pp316-319

3) Jocelyn M. Pollock. 14 March 2003. “Parenting in Women’s Prisons”. Women and Criminal Justice. Vol 7, pp131-154

4) Sharron Leung; David G. Arthur; Ian Martinson. August 2005. “Stress in women with postpartum despression: a phenomenological study. Journal of Advanced Nursing, Vol.51(4), pp.353-360.

5) Beth Mary Mann; Peggy T. Pearl; Pamela D. 2004. “Effects of parent education on knowledge and attitudes.” Journal of adolescence. Vol 39(154), pp 355-360.

6) Janis M. Cambell. 01 December 1992. “Parenting classes: Focus on discipline.” Journal of Community Health Nursing. Vol 9(4), pp197-208.

7) Joy Jarvis; Sally Graham; Penny Hamilton; Dena Tyler. 03 2004. “The Role of Parenting Classes for Young Fathers in Prison: A Case Study.” Probation Journal. Vol51(1), pp.21-33

8) S Maine; R. Shute; G. Martin. 2001. “Educating parents about youth suicide: knowledge, response to suicidal statements, attitudes, and intention to help. Suicide&life-threatening behavior. Vol.31(3), pp. 320-32

9) Debra A. Major. February 2003. “Utilizing role theory to help employed parents cope with children’s chronic illness.” Health education research. Vol.18(1), 99.45-57.

10) Estelle Weinstein; Efrem Rosen. 1994. “Decreasing sex bias through education for parenthood or prevention of adolescent pregnancy: a developmental model with integrative strategies. Adolescence, Fall. Vol. 29(115), p.723(10)