Parenting is probably the most important job you will ever have in your life.

Each of us has to put a great deal of effort into it to make parenting successful. It begins on day one and it goes on forever. It includes important lessons about what you want your child to learn and lessons you need to remember for yourself.

Beginning at birth, your child is forming beliefs of her self-worth. This is a huge lesson and one of the most important ones for parents to recognize and encourage. Find ways to encourage her feelings of self-worth regularly.

It’s also important to treat your child with respect and expect your child to treat you and others with respect. Again, there is no one age to do this and the lesson goes on throughout life.

Remember that encouragement helps your child develop self-esteem. You can see the need for you as a parent to take an active role in encouraging your child from the beginning days of her life.

Encouraging does even more. It lets your child decide for herself if she is happy with what she did. It doesn’t make comparisons or demand perfection.

Be concerned that your child learns how to learn. She doesn’t have to perform perfectly but she needs to continue to learn. We all do.

Don’t push your child. Help her set reasonable goals. Accept her efforts and certainly appreciate her improvements.

Show your child you love her with words, touch, time and respect. These are lessons for each of us to learn to show others you care.

Find caregivers who have similar philosophies as you when you can’t be with your child. A person who spends time with your child will have an influence. You want it to be a good one.

Encourage yourself. Value yourself and the job you are doing raising your child and face today and tomorrow’s challenges with courage.

Remember you teach your child at home from day one and it will help him be ready for school. The skills you are teaching include working cooperatively with others, play with other children, cleaning up without being asked, and learning to follow directions. That is a lot of learning you provide for her.

Remember these first years of a child’s life are life forming years. A mother’s nutritional health, social, emotional and educational conditions will have a huge impact on the future development, educational and social successes of her child. The bonding, social interactions, and relationships established between parent and child should be stimulating, nurturing, supportive and loving.

If a child is talked to, read to, allowed to explore, experiment and use all five senses, she would be more likely to be ready for school and for life.

Cynthia Martin is the founder of the First Teacher program and former executive director of Parenting Matters Foundation, which published newsletters for parents, caregivers and grandparents.