I had all the answers. I was well into my thirties when my first child was born and had been working with children, studying about childrearing practices, had many hours of babysitting behind me, and was more than ready to be a parent. When my first child was born I was instantly a mother of three. My husband’s twin eight year old sons lived with us. As much as I embraced my role of mother and knew this is what I wanted, some days I just wanted to scream “I don’t want to be a parent today!!”

Parenting is a demanding and all encompassing job. It is an around the clock job. There is little recognition or status attached to it. You’re constantly having to think of the needs of others and the older your children get, you find yourself having to negotiate and problem solve almost daily. It can be draining. You’re also asked to listen to things that are mundane and boring but nevertheless important to your child.

What do you do on those days you’d rather be sitting on the beach with a margarita in your hand than going over a spelling list for the tenth time, or listening to a child who can’t seem to stop whining or reading a story you’ve already read fifty times? You allow yourself to feel what you feel. You’re human and all of us feel that way sometimes. It definitely doesn’t mean you’re not meant to be a parent or that you’re a bad parent.

We owe it to our children to be aware of our true feelings and acknowledge them. If you find yourself frequently thinking that you don’t feel like being a parent, it’s probably time to schedule an adult oriented activity with your partner or friends. Don’t be afraid to say out loud how you’re feeling. Chances are if you’re speaking with another parent, they’ve often felt the same way and are relieved someone else feels the same. You don’t want to tell your child that you don’t feel like being a parent but you can say something like: “Mommy just feels like a rest today” or “I need a time out right now.”

Children are a blessing and those of us who are parents know that. We can’t imagine life without them. We often didn’t know what love was until we had children. It doesn’t mean however, we have to love every moment of being a parent. Allow yourself to be human.

Barbara Desmarais is a parenting and life coach and has worked with parents for 20 years. To gain more insights and tips around the most important job in the world, visit her website at http://www.theparentingcoach.com – Claim your free copy of her popular e-book “Raise Your Children But Not Your Voice” when you sign up for her monthly newsletter.

You’ve just confirmed the news that you’re expecting your first baby. Congratulations! How do you prepare for the big day? What is a first-time mother to do, to ensure that she takes the best care of herself and her growing baby? Let’s talk about some important secrets that will optimize your pregnancy, and ensure a stress-free delivery.

Now that you have a tentative due date, it’s important that you realize a couple of things that can literally make, or break your pregnancy, as well as your delivery. First of all, pregnancy is a condition; you are not in your normal state. Therefore, you need to focus on eating right, sleeping more, and following a “physician approved” exercise program, designed for pregnant women. When the mom to be pays strict attention to these important items, she realizes that she will feel better than ever, and she will receive positive reports from her physicians and healthcare staff.

The next item to consider, is your job. If the pregnant woman has a job that requires a great deal of physical demands, it is probably time to consider a career change. One of the things many women do, is place too many demands on their body, at a time when it is critical that she take extra care of herself. During this time, many women who have the option to become “stay at home moms” choose to do so, because it coincides with the high number of appointments and time constraints that increase as your due date draws closer. At this time, and increasing number of new mothers are choosing to start a home-based business, or select a telecommute option, that works for their new family.

Due to the high cost of bringing a baby into the world, it’s important for the mother to be, to choose whether or not she will breast feed, or bottle feed. Preparation is the true hallmark of motherhood, and the more prepared the woman is for the choices she will need to make, the easier the transition. For mothers who plan to bottle feed, or wish to receive free baby stuff, there are companies you can register with, to ensure you receive your new baby items about the same time you’ll be returning from the hospital with your bundle of joy.

The key elements of success for the newly pregnant mom, revolve around eating right, getting more sleep, and having an approved fitness regimen. Pre-planning for the important choices necessary, such as breast feeding or bottle feeding, help keep stress levels low, when going through a major transition. New moms can take the time to register for freebies, discounts, and complimentary products; allowing for extra savings, when expenses are especially high.

Having a baby is the most exciting time of your life, when you take care of yourself, and take time to plan for your future.

Christina Archer is the owner of the “Bout Babies” blog, where she shares tips, tricks, hints, and years of experience raising 5 of her own children. Visitors can visit the blog, at http://boutbabies.wordpress.com