Then, taking a step back, there are the practical issues that should, (but are often not), be addressed prior to introducing a child/children into your environment.
Communications
Expectations
Financial considerations
Health and Safety issues
Life style changes
Luckily, in most cases, it is not too late to address some, if not all, of the practical issues after the introduction of a child into your home.
Now almost everybody has heard of Jo Frost, the Super Nanny, and equally as many will have watched her in action on her television show. Even though you may not aspire to be her, or if you not seen her in action, it is worth considering the attributes that she deploys with the child or children in her care.
Initially, there is the establishment of: