The Momma Clan

While I start writing my heart out, I need to convey that I am a mother of a three-year-old child. Having said that, I must ensure that all mothers are unique and every child too. 

When a child is born, a mother is born too… When a child learns, a mother is also learning. Now if we discuss the parenting class; I would say ‘yes’ it is helpful, but having said that I would never recommend it as a “must.”

Parenting classes guide “to be parents” in various ways, from personal growth and child development to coping with postpartum depression and stress (for mothers). It is surely a helpful one, but when we can sustain a joint family structure, the structure of the family can itself help to cover many of the topics involved in the parenting session. When a mother gets rest, she gets her ‘me’ time, she enjoys herself with other family and friends, and she is mentally and physically happy and healthy, as is the father. This can easily lead to a happy and healthy child.

But when you are in a nuclear family structure with no emotional and physical support, you may need to attend these parenting classes. If I speak about my journey, I shall say I should have joined a parenting class before my journey. As I stay far from my family, it would have helped me to find my time and engage myself in various other activities and definitely to cope with stress. 

This is such a topic, which is so vast, that to come to a conclusion is really difficult. From my perspective, I would say that parenting or dealing with a child is always a “take it as a day.” No mothers or parents can ensure that a particular strategy has worked. Every time and every moment, a new strategy is involved in parenting.

So I shall conclude, saying parenting classes are neither a must nor a fad…they are surely situational. If parents have support from their family, I feel not required many times, but if the family structure is nuclear, it is helpful.

–Manaswita Bhattacharyya Mukhaty