Ooooh, what book are you writing? Also, is this your first kid? It's weird being in a position that I've grown up enough and seen how my parents have raised my siblings and I to be able to define what I think is "good and bad parenting." But I'm not acting on that information because...I don't want a kid right now, yo. But I do keep it in mind and write semi-letters to my potential future kid who will totally be named Ramses if it's a boy. Stuff like "I am 18 and an asshole. I will forget this 10 years from now. Don't let me." Or things like that. And then first-time parents bring their kids over and I'm left babysitting and I see them do shit that I can only respond to with "are you fuckin kidding me tho, why are you letting him/her do this?" I've become super appreciative of how my parents raised me, so I hope I don't forget that when I do(?) end up having my own. First kids are experiments, though. Middle child for life, it's actually a huge perk if you use it properly. I'm ranting now.
Nothing wrong with ranting! I have an n of one but I've come to the opinion that people who consider parenting before they become parents are better prepared to parent than those who don't. I know that there's this global illuminati that maintains that parenting is a life-changing unexpected hellstorm of shattered expectations and vivid insights but I gotta say - her growth and development has been a reassuringly predictable process. And I definitely believe both you and the kid stand to benefit greatly if you're in the zone to want them. My wife had to spend a couple years talking me into it (long story) but the kid's pretty neat. Book is done. Is through 1st draft. Is a paranormal romance spy thriller about God. Take that.