Bringing Up Baby: A Doctor's Prescription for Busy Parents

I've come across this great tips for all young, busy-working parents by Dr. T. Berry Brazelton. Hope it will be of great help to those who are in need.

Juggling work and family can often seem overwhelming. Here Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, himself the father of three girls and a boy, offers some practical advice for easing the strain on working parents, those two-job couples who are so much a part of our world today. A practicing pediatrician for more than 40 years, Dr. Brazelton has never lost his enthusiasm for helping children (and their parents) over life's rough spots.

• Learn to compartmentalize ~ when you work, be there, and when you are at home, be at home.
• Prepare yourself for separating each day. Then prepare the child. Accompany him or her to the care giver.
• Allow yourself to grieve about leaving your baby ~ it will help you find the best substitute care, and you'll leave the child with a passionate parting.
• Let yourself feel guilty. Guilt is a powerful force for finding solutions.
• Find others to share your stress ~ peer or family resource groups.
• Include your spouse in the work of the family.
• Face the reality of working and caring. No supermon or superbaby fantasies.
• Learn to save up energy in the workplace to be ready for homecoming.
• Investigate all the options available at your workplace ~ on-site or nearby day care, shared-job options, flexible time arrangements, take leave if your child is ill.
• Plan for children to fall apart when you arrive home after work. They've saved up their strongest feelings all day.
• Gather the entire family when you walk in. Sit in a big rocking chair until everyone is close again. When the children squirm to get down, you can turn to chores and housework.
• Take children along as you do chores. Teach them to help with the housework, and give them approval when they do.
• Each parent should have a special time alone with each child every week. Even an hour will do.
• Don't let yourself be overwhelmed by stress. Instead, enjoy the pleasures of solving problems together. You can establish a pattern of working as a team.