As a parent, you don’t have to be perfect, but you have to be effective. You have to be open to all sorts of possibilities and scenarios as you take on the challenge of raising kids, and each experience will put your parenting skills to the test. The first step in becoming an effective parent is acknowledging the fact that what might work in one situation won’t necessarily solve another problem. Some may say that having “parenting instincts” is innate, but it is not advisable to rely only on hunches especially where your kids are concerned.