Andrew James - Shakespeares Guide to Parenting

As new parents youll face fresh challenges on a daily basis: The Taming of the Shrew: II, i Its vital that at least one of you maintains a sense of perspective: Macbeth: III, iv Sleep deprivation is one of the few things that new parents can do little to prepare themselves for: King John: II, i The Two Gentlemen of Verona: IV, ii Its also one of those problems that seldom just goes away: Titus Andronicus: II, iii Othello: I, ii Try calling out to them, they may just need the reassurance of hearing your voice; The Tempest: I, i though, ultimately, one of you may need to get up: Henry VI Part 1: V, iv Its important not to be intimidated by a crying baby... Loves Labours Lost: III, i As You Like It: II, v though, equally, it would be naive not to accept that there are going to be some dark times ahead: Henry VI Part 1: V, iv A crying baby can sometimes be pacified by being played with or tossed about, but be careful... The Tempest: II, ii ... not to attempt this too soon after a feeding: King John: IV, iii If youve decided to breast feed youll know that babies want feeding at the most inconvenient times: King Lear: I, iv Even so, youll need to secure a certain level of privacy if you want to avoid becoming part of the general conversation: Hamlet: II, ii Coriolanus: I, iii Theres no reason why a month or two after the birth you shouldnt be back to enjoying a normal, healthy sex-life; King Lear: I, i though this is something that you may wish to discuss with your partner: Much Ado About Nothing: IV, ii Hamlet: IV, v A baby taking his first tentative steps into the world of speech can at times present as a bit of a nuisance: The Merry Wives of Windsor: I, iv Twelfth Night: IV, ii Gently suggesting that he may wish to desist is the obvious way forward,... King Lear: III, vi Troilus and Cressida: V, i ... though you may ultimately need to enlist the help of a family member: The Winters Tale: II, i Encouraging your child to try new and exotic foods from an early age can help to prevent fussy eating habits later on: Antony and Cleopatra: V, ii The child that has recently learnt to walk presents parents with a new nocturnal challenge, Romeo and Juliet: V, iii and often comes armed with a store of unlikely excuses: Macbeth: II, ii Much Ado About Nothing: III, ii The Tempest: II, i Insisting on your right to rest is vital if you want to continue to offer a high level of care: Antony and Cleopatra: IV, xxii Some children can be incredibly demanding, even at a young age: The Winters Tale: IV, iv Dont allow yourself to be dictated to by such a child, Alls Well That Ends Well: II, iii and be prepared to suffer the hurt of unkind words: The Merry Wives of Windsor: I, i Henry IV Part 1: II, iv The Tempest: II, i Lots has been written about supermarket tantrums but one of the simplest techniques is still one of the best: