Your Friend Kate Is a New Mum

Your friend Kate is a new mum. She is constantly worried that she is going to ruin her child by doing or saying the wrong thing. What advice might you give her?

A) Most of her parenting will have minimal impact on her child's adult personality.
B) Although she can afford to make a few mistakes, if she isn't careful her child may have lifelong problems.
C) Often children's personalities are shaped initially by genetics, but environmental influences take over in adolescence, so she has plenty of time.
D) As long as her child has enough shared environmental influences with his siblings, the child will be fine.