Awesome Parents Blogs

Stay at home moms living their lives

January 24th, 2011

It is a misconception that because stay home mothers don’t work, their lives are easier than others. The truth is mothers that stay at home work harder than the rest of us. The job of a stay-at-home mother doesn’t end when the shift is over. It is a 24-hour gig.

The life of a stay-at-home mom can be very rewarding. However, it can become unsettling if you have very little interaction with the outside world. You can overcome this by searching for other mothers in your same position. Networking with other stay at home moms can be an excellent outlet for venting and even help you find new friends. Making friends with another stay at home mom can make things easier for you by allowing your children to play together and sharing some of the load and also by sharing helpful tips. It is important that a stay at home mother always allow time for herself. Set aside the time to take yourself shopping or treat yourself to other types of rewards. This is essential to your mental and emotional state and it will help you be a better mother. Other stay-at-home moms can help you accomplish this.

Try keeping your home life with your children as fun as possible. It is unhealthy for a stay-at-home mom to focus all of their attention on chores and what their children are doing wrong. Sadly it is actually quite common and can leave you feeling trapped. The most important thing is to fulfill your child’s needs. Your children need much more than focus on their bad behavior. In reality, you are the first teacher that your child will ever have. If you handle this appropriately, you can also be the greatest teacher. A good stay-at-home mom will teach their children helpful skills like their alphabets, counting and writing.

image 33 Stay at home moms living their lives Being a stay-at-home mom can help you relive some of your childhood. It is completely acceptable and even healthy for you watch cartoons with your children, play games, and read their favorite books to them. These are fun activities that can help you find enjoyment in staying at home.

The greatest benefit of staying home to raise your children is that you don’t miss any of your child’s firsts. You will not miss their first bike ride, their first step, their first words, or their first smile. These are the types of things that build a strong relationship between you and your child. Before long your children will be grown and you will wish you had not missed these things. Take advantage of the time that you have with them now.

Posted in Goals, Mental Health, Preschool | No Comments »

TECHNIQUES TO HELP YOUR CHILD SLEEP WELL

January 21st, 2011

Few things are as irritating as not being able to sleep properly. Children require a lot more sleep than adults, as it’s necessary for the proper growth and development. The average child requires at least 9 hours of sleep per day and, in the case of babies, it can be as much as 18 hours. If your child experiences discomfort while sleeping or trying to sleep you are not alone, as this is one of the leading problems most parents have with their children. There are a few things you can do to help them to sleep well.

A simple way of helping your child to sleep better is by manipulating the amount of light available in the child’s room. People sleep better in dimly lit areas; this is because bright light inhibits the production of melatonin, a natural hormone that the body produces which aids in sleeping. By using thick curtains that don’t let bright light through, and by reducing night lights, you can enhance your child’s sleeping experience.

Developing a bed time routine can go a long way in helping your child sleep properly. Your bed time routine should constitute moments of love and affection to help the child relax; it may include telling a story, humming or just cuddling. Bed time routines should be brief and ideally should take place in the room where the child is going sleep. Timing is also very important, as it is not a good idea to force your child to sleep. Take note of the child’s behavior; when he/she begins to slow down and display other signs of being tired, then it is the perfect time to put your routine into action.

Encouraging your child to be active can also help them to sleep well. Sleeping is a recovery process; the more energy you exert during the day, the greater your body’s need for rest at night. It is important that you do not give the child any food or drink with caffeine less than six hours before bedtime, as this will just reenergize the child by suppressing the production of melatonin while increasing adrenalin levels. Also, avoid giving child big meals before bed time.

Comfort is necessary for anyone to sleep well, especially children. Many things can affect comfort level, such as temperature, noise, quality of the bed and so on. Extreme heat or cold will certainly inhibit a child’s ability to relax; children tend to sleep better when the room is nice and cool. As a parent, you want to make sure your child’s bed is not worn out and lumpy; you also want to make sure all bed linens are clean. There is a school of thought that the noise made by running fans and vaporizers helps babies to sleep better, as it simulates the sound babies hear in the womb.

These are some of the many ways you can use to help your child get the necessary amount of sleep required for his/her development. Sleep deprivation can seriously affect a child’s quality of life, so the onus is on you, the parent, to make the sleeping experience as pleasant as possible.

Posted in Mental Health, Parents | No Comments »

Toddler and a new baby

January 18th, 2011

When a child is very young, the world is a strange place. All
emotions are new, and lessons are being learnt on a daily basis. If
that child is the first born, he or she will have had their parents to
themselves for some time. A new arrival on the scene changes
everything. This can be a very stressful time for the toddler. For
the first time in their life, they don’t have the undivided
attention of its mother. These new feelings can manifest
themselves into behaviour problems. Its not uncommon to see disruptive patterns developing at this time in their lives. Basically
they are trying to get back the focus of attention onto themselves. image 25 Toddler and a new baby

So how do you go about minimising the affects of this kind of
change?

You can not wipe out all signs of jealousy, and its important not
over do your efforts in this. It is a natural emotion. Far better to
understand why it has made its presence felt in your child. Do not
get angry with the toddler, this will only help to make their feeling
more deep rooted. Often the child will only need reassurance that
you still love them just as much as before. It is a normal part of
growing up.
Of course you can begin the education long before the birth. Just
remember that you toddler does not have the same capacity to
understand future events in the same way as you do. Talk about
their new brother or sister in a way that makes them feel involved.
If they do not seem interested, its just because they are processing
the information differently than you do. Encourage them to join in
gently.
Make the whole event part of their lives. Ask them what names
they like. What do they want the baby to grow up to be. Ask them
about how they feel. It really is all about involvement as much as
possible.

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What items do you need for your new baby?

January 15th, 2011

There are so many baby product available that it can seem a little
daunting for the new parent at first. Do you really need
everything? Are you just falling for clever marketing? You could
find yourself investing in items that never get used. So I hope this
list will point you in the right direction. I feel that these are the
most important items for your newborn.
Clothing. Clothing is obviously essential, but do not make the
mistake of buying too many. Babies grow very quickly and you
will end up with items that can not be used. One piece baby
suits,socks and bonnets are useful. Obviously if its cold a jacket
would be a good buy.. You will need a shawl and blankets as well.
Nursery things. A cot, a mattress, blankets and sheets are all must
have items. You may want to buy toys and mobiles to hang over
the cot, but these items are not essential. Your ne image 26 What items do you need for your new baby? wborn baby needs
comfort, feeding, warmth and love above all else. So if money is
tight. Direct it in those areas first. Think practical. Does it have a
real use? will it be used? The answer to those questions could save
you a lot of money.
Baby care items. Babies have very delicate skin and so will have products designed especially for them. It really is important to use
those types of products. Your health care worker or midwife will
advise you on this. A thermometer is an item that many new
parents would not think of, but it can save you from worrying
needlessly when the baby is crying but not really ill.
Diapers are essential and you have choices in these. Disposables
are easier but not green friendly. Cotton ones mean more work,
because you have to wash them, but also cheaper in the long run
because you do not need to keep buying new ones.
Feeding equipment. This will depend on if the baby is being
breastfed or bottle fed. If feeding naturally, then nursing bras and
special pillows will be on the list. If bottle fed, you will find teats
and bottles a must buy. Along with sterilising equipment.
Teething rings will be used at a later date. Sooner than you think.
Along with a play mat. Your budget will decide just how many
toys or educational products you buy. If you own a car, then you
will need a car seat and a travel diaper bag.
I hope this list helps you make up your mind just how your going
to spend your money. Your baby really needs warmth, food and
love above all else.

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A new baby changes your life.

January 12th, 2011

Of course bringing a new baby into your life is a wonderful event.
An amazing experience that changes your life forever

However not all the changes are easy to cope with. Your baby
will not likely follow the same sleep pattern as you. This can be a
really stressful time for the new parent. Some babies will sleep for
up to four hours at time if you’re lucky. Many will not .

It does require a lot of adjustment on your part. You have to be
careful that your own lack of sleep does not make you to
unbearable to be around. This can easily cause problems within
the rest of the family.

New parents discover that the things they took for granted before,
have now changed. Shopping trips or visiting family has now to
be organised on an almost military scale.

image 24 A new baby changes your life.

You may find your social circle changes as well. Many friends that
do not have a young family now have a little less in common with
you. The plus side is that you will drift into other peoples circles.
As you meet more new parents and start getting invited to their
events. These are all changes that occur naturally, and it pays to be
aware of them. You will never really lose touch with anyone if you
do not want to. Just be aware that your priorities have changed.

You begin to see the world a little differently as well. Your
newborn baby has given you a new sense of responsibility and you
begin to care about the future more than ever before.
You may find yourself making changes to your lifestyle. Like
eating healthier, or not taking as many risks.
Many of these changes directly affect you as much the newborn
babies life.
Welcome to the world of parenting!

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How to cope with a second birth.

January 9th, 2011

When you have your first baby, your head can be in a whirl. There
is all that expectation of the actual birth and so many other
thoughts and fears going on inside your head. Then there is choosing a name for the new arrival, and getting the nursery
prepared. It can feel like that there will never be enough hours in
the day to manage it all. I often feel that this is mother natures way
of getting you ready for motherhood, because then it gets really
busy.

However if this is not your first baby, there can be a lot of
difference in how you need to handle the whole event. You may
not feel quiet so anxious this time round. Obviously that is a good
thing, but you may find yourself not being so excited about the
happy event. This does not make this new birth any less important
to you, its just that you have other areas in your life to focus on.
When you had your first baby. You had only the new arrival to
think about. Now there will be another little one at home. Who
needs your attention just as much.

During your pregnancy you will be more concerned about the
welfare of your other children or child to worry about what stage
of the development the unborn baby is in. This may feel like you
do not care as much. In fact its the opposite, you’re just being a
good mother.

Before you know it, those nine months have flown by. You now
have to prepare yourself for the birthing day. Only this time you
have another task as well.

You have to prepare your other little ones for the arrival of the
new baby. Their life will be different from now on as well.

The main thing is not make them feel left out. If they feel involved
in the whole process that can help. Let them choose a few things
for the nursery. Ask them if they want to share any of their own
toys. Let them be involved in the naming of the new arrival. I do
not mean that you should hand over all responsibility to the child,
because you will be guiding them through the whole event.

Giving them this sense of involvement can make a huge difference
to how the child copes with another baby taking some of its
mothers attention. They will not feel so left out.

image 23 How to cope with a second birth.

Make sure that you have some time in the day, where they have
you to themselves. Juggling all of this is not easy, but those early
bonding moments last forever.

Posted in Babies, Parents | No Comments »

The art of parenting.

January 6th, 2011

Raising a child introduces you to a helter skelter of different
emotions. Just when you think that you have finished the book,
another secret chapter appears that nobody told you about.
There are twists and turns everywhere. It’s not like you can go to a
s image 22 The art of parenting. chool and learn everything in one go. Each child is so different,
and will have his or her unique way of taking on the world.

The thing to remember is not to think that you have to be perfect.
You will make mistakes. That it is just part of the course. Its an
impossible task to get right. What works in raising your first child,
might not even come close with your second. The reason behind
this is simple. Even though the second child may raised under the
same rules and conditions. They may respond in a completely
different way. We are all different creatures. We do not all share
the same thoughts and desires. What makes us individuals, makes
us great. So if as a parent you are sometimes confused. You are far
from alone.

You will find yourself constantly having to think on your feet. As
the rules seem to change right in front of your eyes. Do you know
your child probably feels the same.

Often to them the world is this massive arena full of adults who
are only intent on destroying their visions. By that they mean fun.
So do not expect to be thanked too many times on your journey
through parenthood.

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Single parenting.

January 3rd, 2011

Parenting is a hard enough task when shared between a couple, but
left to just one parent it becomes a whole new world. A
responsibility left to one person makes the task twice as hard.
Sometimes problems that are really not that big, will seem like
your world has caved in.

If you find yourself in the position of being a single parent, then
parenting advice will be so useful to you. Often the best advice
can come from your own parents. After all they have been through
it already.

Although the world will have changed since you were a child, and your child will live with different technology and different
attitudes. The role of the parent has not changed at all. So your
parents may struggle with some new inventions, or not like how
world has changed, but they will still know what is important in
being a parent.

Some parenting skills will be built into you, and some you will
have to learn from others. There are many ways in which you can
gain parenting advice. Look for parenting books at your local
library. They will almost certainly have a wide selection. Also a
great place to look for parenting advice is an article directory
on the Internet. Most of the big directories will have massive
collection of parenting articles.

You may find a parenting class being held somewhere close to
you. These classes could give you the chance not just to ask
questions or advice, but also to be able to make contacts and
friends who are also in the same position as you.

Remember as a single parent, your role will sometimes seem that
much harder. It would be easy to let this get you down. You have
to remember that there are many places to get advice and help.
You are never really ever alone.

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5 ways to show your teen that you love them

December 31st, 2010

As your children age and become teenagers, they become less interested in their parents and more interested in their friends. As they start to venture out on their own more, there will be less quality time to spend with them. Despite the fact that your children would rather be hanging out with their friends, instead of eating dinner with their family, it is still very important for the children to know that they are loved and appreciated by their parents.

Continue to show affection to your child whenever you can. Even though days may be very busy, there is always time for a hug or a quick ‘how are you’? Say good morning to your child every single day. If there is time, sit down and have breakfast or a cup of juice with them. Tell them good night every single night. Even if they are already asleep, always go and say goodnight. It is so reassuring to know that whatever plans they may have that day, their parents are always there for them at the beginning and end of everything. Tell them you love them every day, multiple times a day, even if you are fighting and very mad at each other. You never know when you will lose the opportunity to express your love.

Talk to your children and encourage them to talk to you. While they may not want to share every detail of their lives, they need to know that you are there for them if they have a problem. Listen to them without making judgments or telling them why they are wrong. Try to understand their problem and consider solutions together. As a parent, if your child has done something wrong, there should be a image 20 5 ways to show your teen that you love them consequence, but be sure to explain why they are being punished. Communication is the key to a solid relationship.

Always ask them questions about their plans. They may get annoyed when you ask them where they are going, with who, what they are doing, how they are getting there, why they are going there, and when they will be home, but in time they will understand that you only ask all these questions because you want to keep them safe. Sometimes children do not understand the risks out in the world, but eventually they will thank you for protecting them.

Help your child with their schoolwork and emphasise the value of a good education. While children do most of their academic learning at school, education can be further fostered at home. This is a great way to teach them time management and learn their strengths. It will prepare them for college and life.

Take an interest in your children. Ask them questions about their lives and be genuinely interested in their responses. Find out why they like the things they do and then go participate in the activity with them. Always express how you care about their interests and goals.

Generally, show your children you care at every opportunity. Try not to yell, and if you do lose your temper, take time later to talk to your child about why and how the situation could have been better handled. A teen will feel the most loved if they feel safe and appreciated in their own house, if they know that it is ok if they make mistakes, and if they are comfortable enough to seek advice for their problems from you.

Posted in Communication, Teenager, teens | No Comments »

Children and Breath holding

November 6th, 2010

When some children become acutely upset or angry they may hold their breath for what seems like an unnaturally long time. You may find it happens more often if the child has been unwell or simply if they have had an active day and are very tired. It can be part of a tantrum and/or be a sign of sheer frustration. The child’s body may become very stiff and tense and her face will be red or even purple. Most children will eventually cry but if they don’t the attack may end with a loss of consciousness which will last for a few seconds or at the most up to a minute. This is extremely frightening for parents or carers but attacks end by themselves and no harm comes to the child.

What you can do…

The first time it happens you will probably be too shocked to act quickly but always try to remain calm.
Once you have seen an attack you may be able to predict the next one by the pattern of the child’s behaviour. Give her a gentle shake, holding her arms to get her attention, or blow on to her face to try to stop the attack in its tracks. Then give her a firm cuddle.
After the second or third attack you will probably be quite adept at predicting attacks. However, make an appointment at the surgery to confirm the diagnosis.

This article is a guide only – please seek advice from your medical advisor in all cases.

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