[MomOfAgr8Kid]

Hi all, my name is April and I'm working toward my associates in Early Childhood. We have to interview parents of infants and write a summary paper on the response we receive. I'm turing you all there at TCM to help me. I love this community and hope I get a lot of feed back. Here is how it works. I'm going to post some interview questions below, all I need you to do is copy and paste them and type in your answers in between the questions. You can either send your response to me at bookerfamilyof3@embarqmail.com or just simply post your answers right here on this forum. I think you for your help in advance!!!

**all participants are to be named annonymous in report**

Question 1.) Are you a parent of an infant girl/boy/or both? What ages?



Question 2.) What would you describe as the hardest part of raising an infant today? What could make it easier?



Question 3.) What would you describe as the most rewarding part of raising an infant?



Question 4.) What items do you use in your day-to-day life raising your infant that just makes things a little easier?



Question 5.) Is there anything you would do different if you could go back and start over from the starts of raising an infant? (ex. choosing different formula, diapers, child care, etc.)




Question 6.) How would you descibe your life from before having an infant compared to now?




Question 7.) What advice would you give to new moms?




Question 8.) What was the most valuable advice you ever received pertaining to your infant? Who did that advice come from?



Question 9.) When you think about your child as an adult what do you picture as their carrier? (this is just a fun question)




Question 10.) What is your biggest fears in the upcoming years of raising this child? What do you look forward to the most?



Question 11.) Which milestone in infant/toddler years to you feel is most important and dear to you? Why?

[Carrie]

Question 1.) Are you a parent of an infant girl/boy/or both? What ages?

Boy. 7 months.


Question 2.) What would you describe as the hardest part of raising an infant today? What could make it easier?

Financial concerns preventing mothers who want to do so to stay home with their infants. Government support.

Question 3.) What would you describe as the most rewarding part of raising an infant?

Cuddling him and feeling madly in love!

Question 4.) What items do you use in your day-to-day life raising your infant that just makes things a little easier?

Baby carriers - Ergo and wrap.

Question 5.) Is there anything you would do different if you could go back and start over from the starts of raising an infant? (ex. choosing different formula, diapers, child care, etc.)

I would never have bought so much baby gear!

Question 6.) How would you descibe your life from before having an infant compared to now?

Self-centered before having an infant. Now caring more about others and the world.

Question 7.) What advice would you give to new moms?

Trust your instincts.

Question 8.) What was the most valuable advice you ever received pertaining to your infant? Who did that advice come from?

Trust your instinct. This came from my wonderful husband.

Question 9.) When you think about your child as an adult what do you picture as their carrier? (this is just a fun question)

Musician.

Question 10.) What is your biggest fears in the upcoming years of raising this child? What do you look forward to the most?

I fear that I will not be able to keep up with his energy - he is wild! I look forward to laughing with him - he is such a happy baby!

Question 11.) Which milestone in infant/toddler years to you feel is most important and dear to you? Why?
[/quote]

Smiling/laughing. Because this is when I feel that we are really connecting.

[scadgrad98]

Question 1.) Are you a parent of an infant girl/boy/or both? What ages? girl. 8 months



Question 2.) What would you describe as the hardest part of raising an infant today? What could make it easier? This makes my 4th child and the most difficult thing NOW is the lack of medication you can give them. When my older 3 were little there were cold medicines you could give them to help them sleep/breathe/etc. while sick... now - NOTHING... you just have to tough it out.



Question 3.) What would you describe as the most rewarding part of raising an infant? JOY! Her smile brings me joy every day!



Question 4.) What items do you use in your day-to-day life raising your infant that just makes things a little easier? tricitymom.com - LOL! and "Cloth diapers" (a.k.a. BURP RAGS!) and SHOUT spray (for stains... I use the spray on EVERY outfit REGARDLESS of spit up... her clothes are virtually stain free!)



Question 5.) Is there anything you would do different if you could go back and start over from the starts of raising an infant? (ex. choosing different formula, diapers, child care, etc.) No... this is my fourth child. I've pretty much learned the do's and don'ts by now. (Not that I'm a perfect parent by any means...)




Question 6.) How would you descibe your life from before having an infant compared to now? I thought my life was full of adventure BEFORE KIDS... only to find out now... I WAS COMPLETELY WRONG... I didn't know anything about adventure until having my children.




Question 7.) What advice would you give to new moms? LISTEN TO OLDER MOMS! They actually do know what they're talking about. AND try not to worry so much. Children are resilient and don't break as easily as we think. Don't JUMP every time they bump their heads... most of the time the bump isn't as bad as it sounds.




Question 8.) What was the most valuable advice you ever received pertaining to your infant? Who did that advice come from? see question 7... this was advice from my mother.



Question 9.) When you think about your child as an adult what do you picture as their carrier? (this is just a fun question) Faithful Christian and a loving wife and mother.




Question 10.) What is your biggest fears in the upcoming years of raising this child? What do you look forward to the most?
1. Fear - the amount of sickness that cannot be treated or cured that we see now seems to be more today than ever... I worry about that for my children.

2. I look forward to EVERYTHING! I love watching them grow!



Question 11.) Which milestone in infant/toddler years to you feel is most important and dear to you? Why? Learning to speak. It is important that we as parents influence good manners and the proper way to speak to people - ESPECIALLY their elders!

[thebrightseven]

Question 1.) Are you a parent of an infant girl/boy/or both? What ages?
-Boy, 6months



Question 2.) What would you describe as the hardest part of raising an infant today? What could make it easier?
-The hardest part for me is not knowing the future. I don't know if knowing could make that easier or if it would make it worse.


Question 3.) What would you describe as the most rewarding part of raising an infant?
-When he smiles at me, or laughs. I know he's happy and healthy. When others say wonderful things about him, it lets me know I'm doing something right!


Question 4.) What items do you use in your day-to-day life raising your infant that just makes things a little easier?
-Bumbo! I love this thing! I have used one for 2 of my previous children and I just adore them. The kids do too!


Question 5.) Is there anything you would do different if you could go back and start over from the starts of raising an infant? (ex. choosing different formula, diapers, child care, etc.)
-No. I don't think I would do anything different!



Question 6.) How would you descibe your life from before having an infant compared to now?
-There is no comparison. I didn't have a life before I was a mommy. This is my 5th baby, and I couldn't imagine how life would be... where I would be... I was just "me" back then. Now I'm so much more. I'm mommy, dr, teacher, cook, driver, coach and so much more!



Question 7.) What advice would you give to new moms?
-Don't be afraid to take the help when others offer! It isn't a sign of weakness!!



Question 8.) What was the most valuable advice you ever received pertaining to your infant? Who did that advice come from?
-The most valuable advice I have ever received was from my mother, she told me that I had what it takes to be a mom, it was already inside me. That when my baby was born, I would just know what to do and if I didn't, well... I could just have a good cry and then figure it out! **She told me this because I was 17 when I had my first baby, and I didn't know if I could do it.**


Question 9.) When you think about your child as an adult what do you picture as their carrier? (this is just a fun question)
-



Question 10.) What is your biggest fears in the upcoming years of raising this child? What do you look forward to the most?
-My biggest fear is that I will fail as a mother. That I will not lead him the way I should. I look forward to everything!!!


Question 11.) Which milestone in infant/toddler years to you feel is most important and dear to you? Why?
-Oh, they are all dear to me and every single one is important!! I can't pick just one!

[CrystalAlexander]

I'm currently pregnant (3 weeks to go), with our first, so I won't reply to your interview questions. However, I also have a degree in early childhood education, and I wanted to say good luck! Feel free to contact me with any questions or advice needed. It's a wonderful career field, but you'll work harder than you ever have before!

[IcedMudd]

I actually have a toddler right now, but thought I would answer your questions anyway

Question 1.) Are you a parent of an infant girl/boy/or both? What ages?
Boy 27 months (Siblings are two sisters, 3 and 5 years)


Question 2.) What would you describe as the hardest part of raising an infant today? What could make it easier?
I would say the hardest part of having an infant is exposure. Exposure to harmful people and harmful substances. People tend to not be as respectful as I as a parent expect. When out and about with children you will run into those who do not smoke in designated smoking areas, exposing children to harmful chemicals that they do not have a choice to breath in. Some even do not filter their language. This is a huge pet peeve for me.


Question 3.) What would you describe as the most rewarding part of raising an infant?
The most rewarding is probably those late night, early morning hours when you hear those first belly laughs, or just when you think you can't stay awake another moment, your baby decides it's hilarious and they shine their very first smile. Those are moments that I will never forget.


Question 4.) What items do you use in your day-to-day life raising your infant that just makes things a little easier?
Each of my children have been different. However, around 5 months, my one baby gear item that was an absolute life saver was our jumperroo.


Question 5.) Is there anything you would do different if you could go back and start over from the starts of raising an infant? (ex. choosing different formula, diapers, child care, etc.)
No, I'm pretty happy with most of our decisions for him. He is a natural born, breastfed, intact boy!



Question 6.) How would you descibe your life from before having an infant compared to now?
Before having an infant, you are a lot less tired.



Question 7.) What advice would you give to new moms?
My advice to give to new moms would be to listen to your instincts. Don't completely forget about yourself, but remember at the same time, it's not all about you. Don't beat yourself up when you bonk his/her head on the doorfacing the first time while trying to juggle him/her, diapers, wipes, blankets, etc. It happens. Be prepared to be covered in all bodily fluids. It won't be as gross as you think. Give breastfeeding an honest go. If you need help, ask for it. Breast is best.



Question 8.) What was the most valuable advice you ever received pertaining to your infant? Who did that advice come from?
I met another mother while pregnant with my second child. She told me that nursing while pregnant would be very difficult but extremely worth every ounce of pain. She was very right.


Question 9.) When you think about your child as an adult what do you picture as their carrier? (this is just a fun question)





Question 10.) What is your biggest fears in the upcoming years of raising this child? What do you look forward to the most?
My biggest fear is that I may fail them, somehow. I look forward to seeing his personality develop more


Question 11.) Which milestone in infant/toddler years to you feel is most important and dear to you? Why?
That is a hard one. I think all the milestones are equally important. If I had to pick one as the one that is momentous to me, it would be the first steps. When your child crawls, you know it won't be long until their feet are the only support under their unsteady steps. Once you see your child cruising along furniture, it seems so unreal. Finally, when they let go, you realize this is a huge step toward independence. Your little swaddling bundle is now majorly mobil and isn't quite as dependent on you in the months prior.