There's no such thing as a perfect parent Published April 6, 2010 By Reagan Lantz Family Advocacy Outreach Manager MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Being a parent is not always the easiest job. There are joys and hardships that come along with the title of "Mom" or "Dad." A parent may be juggling work, school, deployments, kids' schedules, and if they are lucky some "me" time or "us" time with their partner. It's a matter of fact that life can become overwhelming with the demands thrown at us. Sometimes stress can become too much and we may take our frustrations out on the people we care about. We may do or say things we normally wouldn't do. People should be aware of how they handle stress and take the necessary steps to take care of themselves so they don't lose control. If needed take a "time-out" or call a friend to come help, it is a much better solution than taking frustrations out on a crying infant or a teenager who wants to be defiant. Lack of education on parenting is more common than one thinks. Most of us out there do not want to admit it. Parenting is a learned skill, one that is acquired and is tailored to fit each individual's needs. As a parent, we may not know how to handle a child's temperament or the stage of development they are in. A parent should take a moment and reflect how they were raised, then ask themselves, "Is this something that I want to instill in my child?" Children are unique and special in their own way and they do not come with a user guide. It is important to teach and to discipline our children with love and guidance. More importantly is to parent without abuse and violence. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. The Family Advocacy Program here at Minot AFB provides preventative efforts to avoid child maltreatment when military families are overwhelmed and feel there is no solution. Family Advocacy wants to help everyone be the best parent they can be. One way of doing this is to participate in the New Parent Support Program for those with children up to the age of three years old. This is a free, voluntary service where a registered nurse can assist parents with any questions and also provide home visits. There are also classes such as Breastfeeding Information, New Parent's Class, Dads 101, Infant Massage and Happiest Baby on the Block. Other parenting classes that Family Advocacy provides are 1-2-3 Magic, Love and Logic and Active Parenting of Teens. For more information or to register for classes, contact Family Advocacy at 723-5096. In recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month and Shaken Baby Prevention, the Family Advocacy Program has also gathered photos of beautiful babies from the men and women of Minot Air Force Base to ensure we all remember that all babies are beautiful, so let's keep them safe. To view the photos, click HERE.