How to Be a Smart and Wise Parent

If you have wisdom, most probably your parents are also smart and wise. However, that doesn’t mean that wisdom comes solely from genes. You may have wisdom because you desire to be wise; that is, you want to know more, and the more you know, the wiser you may have become.

If that be the case, then is wisdom closely related to knowledge acquisition? Well, not exactly. Wisdom is more than just being knowledgeable: it is the capability of the mind to see things as they really are, and not as what they may seem to be, or are supposed to be. To illustrate, if you place a baby in front of a mirror, at first the baby may think that it is another baby in the mirror. But, soon enough, the baby will find out that it is just his or her own reflection in the mirror. Likewise, many of us may think that we are who we are; however, with true wisdom, we will perceive who we really are, and not who we wish we were. Wisdom helps us separate the truths from the half-truths about ourselves or just about anything. That is why the path to wisdom involves asking many probing questions about self and others. Therefore, it is important to teach and train your child to ask questions as often as possible.

Asking questions was one of the many first things that I taught my daughter when she was a child. I remember once she asked me why her shadow was always following her. I was amazed at how observant as well as how inquisitive she was. Even now, her husband comments that she always asks questions about this and about that.

Asking questions activates brain cells, and thereby instrumental in promoting brain development and enhancing intelligence. Encourage your baby to ask questions.

Remember, as adults, we have utilized less than 20 percent of our brain cells; there is still plenty of room left for enhancement. All in all, wisdom is the mental capability to see the truths through self-intuition.

Being clever or intelligent, on the other hand, is the capability to acquire appropriate and relevant knowledge, and then apply it to solving problems in everyday life situations. If you are clever, you may have acquired the skills to put things together because you are quick to learn and understand how things work. However; being clever or intelligent doesn’t necessarily mean that you must be wise. Being knowledgeable means knowing what to do, and being wise means knowing when and how to do it in different circumstances to suit one’s unique self and purpose.

Being smart is the first step towards becoming clever or intelligent. Being smart is becoming knowledgeable, which provides the raw materials for intelligence and wisdom: it has much more to do with understanding the how. One doesn’t become knowledgeable overnight. It is a long process of acquisition of information that requires learning and training, as well as time and effort. As soon as the baby’s brain develops in the mother’s womb, start touching and talking to it—and that is how a baby becomes smart even before it arrives into this world. The more you stimulate the brain cells, the smarter the baby becomes. When the baby comes into this world, continue nonstop your daily effort to stimulate his brain to make your baby smarter. Remember, the baby’s brain is like a blank sheet of paper; the more you fill it up with knowledge and information, the smarter the baby will become.

Make Your Smart Baby Super Smart

Stephen Lau

Copyright© by Stephen Lau

The Importance of Prenatal Care

To have a healthy baby, prenatal care is a necessity, and not an option.  The basics of prenatal care involve tests and checkups designed to provide adequate information for a healthy pregnancy, and they generally include:  the general health and well-being of the mother, as well as the baby; any early detection of pregnancy complication; education and preparation for parenthood; and the preparation for birth.

    

The first prenatal appointment usually takes place between week 8 and 12.

Routine blood tests are taken to check for HIV and hepatitis B, and other health issues that the mother may have. Urine samples are taken to check for protein and glucose levels. Blood pressure is regularly checked for pre-eclampsia, a life-threatening condition affecting 8 to 10 percent of pregnant women.

The baby’s growth is measured by the distance from the top of the uterus to the pelvis bone. Early ultrasound scan may be offered to confirm the due date and the number of babies. Nuchal transparency screening may be offered (week 11-14) to determine if there is any possibility for Down’s syndrome or other abnormalities, such as accumulation of more fluid at the back of the baby’s neck.

Prenatal checkup continues once a month for low-risk pregnancy until week 28 to 32, then twice a month until week 36, and then once a week until birth. This is the general pattern of prenatal care.

Screening tests may be conducted every now and then to measure the levels of chemicals to identify the risks of problems and health issues with the baby.

During pregnancy, some invasive diagnostic tests may also be offered to determine certain health risks associated with the baby. Discuss with the doctor the pros and cons of these tests, and make the decision.

An ultrasound scan may be performed (week 20-24) to check the baby’s development as well as the baby’s sex.

A blood test may be given (around week 28) to check for anemia (why: abnormally low level of red blood cells), and gestational diabetes. 

Most of the tests, scans, and screenings are necessary to ensure the safety and health of both the baby and the mother. However, some may be unnecessary and even too invasive. Use your judgment to decide the dos and the don’ts. Always ask the doctor why a certain test, scan, or screening is required and if it carries any undesirable side effect. If need be, seek a second opinion on any issue.

The Dos and Don't During Pregnancy

Stephen Lau

Copyright© by Stephen Lau