Being the father of a toddler came at me fast. Before the next big phase arrives, it’s time to slow down and reflect on four simple things I have learnt during Squish’s first year about some parenting basics.

Pride is profoundly I-centred. It defends our threatened ego by diminishing the other and consequently puts distance between us. Humility is the foundation of harmony and love between husband and wife. It helps us get the focus off winning and onto each other.

Richard has now experienced what an incredible blessing it is to be a parent. As a single dad, he courageously stepped up to a task that seemed too big, and now he recognises the amazing things he would have missed had he chosen to give in to fear and run.

I remember the feeling of accomplishment when I successfully managed my first bus trip with my newborn all by myself. With an infant, the mundane act of taking public transport transforms into a glorious adventure and holds a multitude of teachable opportunities.

It happened so quickly, I barely noticed the change. But all of a sudden, our little bundle of joy needs to be disciplined. Every moment of the day, she is finding ways to test boundaries and assert her independence.

Dining out can be stressful rather than relaxing when you have rambunctious toddlers. Here are some tips to make it a more pleasant experience for everyone, fellow patrons and waitstaff included:

Our little Squish is fast closing in on her first birthday. Where have these last 12 months gone? My first year of fatherhood has been better than I imagined. It comes with plenty of challenges, of course, but so does every path we choose in life.

For the last two weeks, Squish has been surrounded by all four of her grandparents. It was the first time Squish had met my mum and dad, who flew in to the United States all the way from Australia.

An intentional marriage that is loving and affirming, is a powerful way to heal the wounds of insecure attachment. It’s one of the great graces of marriage as we grow in attachment to each other by providing consistent and responsive care.

Introducing your child to the great outdoors is part of the joy of parenting. Fostering a love of nature and curiosity about creation is par for the course. However, in Australia, the flora and fauna pose hazards aplenty. Be careful around unidentified plants!

For most men, being a new father ignites some new feelings that don’t really come from any other experiences in life.

Life gets busy, and despite the instinct to nest and collect all necessities before birth, your due date can creep up on you before you know it. Preparing during your second trimester might be ideal, as you tend to have more energy then.

Dr Nielsen’s work at Wake Forest has concluded that women perform better in what they refer to as the 3Ms = Money, Men, and Mental Health, if the father-daughter relationship is strong.

With the birth of your tiny human comes an awareness of things that could possibly go wrong. Suddenly, your home becomes a zone of veritable death traps. It is ideal to begin childproofing before your newborn starts crawling and natural curiosity imperils your offspring.

One thing I wish I had known as a new parent was to look harder on Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree or in local Buy Nothing groups before buying a whole bunch of new things.

I am convinced that a love of the outdoors is innate in every child. It doesn’t need to be taught, but if it isn’t nurtured, it can fade fast and be crowded out by all of the artificial environments we have created in the modern world.

I am grateful to have such a hands-on father as my spouse. Include your husband in your development as a mother, so that he too may grow as a father and together, you can be the best parents possible for your baby.

Lorenz suggested that a baby’s cute features trigger a nurturing response in adults, encouraging them to care for and protect them. Research has confirmed Lorenz’s theory many times over in the decades since.

Do you already have the “perfect” plan designed for your children’s lives? As mothers, I believe this is a particularly difficult area to manoeuvre. Wanting the very best for our children, we can get our hearts set on the best preschool to the best college.

Finding the secret to respectful, civil and constructive co-parenting is important for your kids. As part of a united parental front, my kids’ mum and I made it work without too many issues.