[Humidston]

Congratulations!! Go out and buy all the Dr. James Dobson books you can afford. Read them and study them carefully and APPLY his principles.

Be a patient, loving, FIRM, communicative parent. And remember, the first 5-7 years will establish your authority over your children for the rest of their lives.

Never let them take control because if you do, you won't get it back unless there's a Huge battle! Love them up and cover their little faces with sloppy kisses. I envy you. Mine are all grown now, but I'd love to start all over - just because it's so fun and so challenging!

It's the greatest journey in the world!

[Flightdeck]

Thanks for the advice.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

buy all the Dr. James Dobson books you can afford. Read them and study them carefully and APPLY his principles.

Be a patient, loving, FIRM, communicative parent. And remember, the first 5-7 years will establish your authority over your children for the rest of their lives.

I once showed a Dobson book to my sister-in-law and she said, "Does it work?"
I replied, "No--you do."

Dobson's advice reminded me of the Dale Carnegie advice, which I commend to your attention. "Don't criticize, condemn, or complain."

The alternative to that is, "Give honest, sincere appreciation." Which implies looking for things done right, and talking about that. In other words, aggressively anticipating problems and heading them off.

IOW, leadership. What is more natural a description of being a parent?
And paternal leadership of the family as a whole implies anticipating problems even before your wife does. Which, I might add, is easier said than done in the context of things like the logistics of vacations etc.

If you haven't had leadership training or the Dale Carnegie course, I recommend the latter (having no experience of the former).