What turns ordinary people into good parents? People are not born with good parenting skills; Parenting is a skill that is learned over a period of time. A good parent learns from their environment and passes what they have learned down to their children.

Often, when a couple finds out that they are going to be parents, several things go through their mind. What kind of parent will I be? How do I raise a child? Can I be a good parent? Panic will overtake them and they often rush to the local bookstore to purchase loads of parenting books and magazines to teach them how to become good parents.

While reading parenting books is a good resource, and can give you some insight into how to handle certain situations, you should not rely solely on the advice that these books offer. Many people have different opinions on raising a child and conflicting information can confuse you and in some cases, cause undue stress.

The first step in becoming a good parent is to realize that you are not perfect. No one is. You are going to make mistakes, some big some small. The important thing is to realize what the mistake is and not repeat it.

When you have your first child, you will ask friends and family for advice. Your best resource is your own parents. Ask yourself these questions;

· How did my parent raise me?

· Do I have good morals and values?

· Did I have a happy childhood?

· What method of discipline was used?

· How attentive were my parents?

These are very important questions, and when you answer these questions, one or more of the answers may be negative. However, this is where common sense takes over. There will be things about the way you were raised that you liked and disliked. The areas that you did not like about the way you were raised can be turned around when you raise your own child. This is how you develop into a good parent.

Parenting is a twenty-four hour a day job. Anyone who has been there will tell you that it can be absolutely chaotic at times. This is when your good parenting skills are developed to their fullest potential.

Your first child will bring a whole new set of challenges. Feeding, clothing, bathing, and all that needs to be done will take some getting used to. However, those who have been there can tell you that the insecurities that you feel will soon diminish, and by the time you have your next child, you will be confident in your parenting skill.

What makes a good parent? A good parent is a person who is patient, kind, considerate, understanding, helpful, a good listener, and a disciplinarian at the proper times. Chances are, you already have these attributes, however applying them to a child is very different than your spouse or friends.