Filed as Advice and tagged kids, life, Parenting with no replies
When I was young, I remember being very fond of playing with Lego blocks. I guess I was an imaginative kid. I had this whole bucket of loose Lego blocks (some were previously parts of sets). I made space ships, fortresses, cars, and all sorts of things.
Then I would keep these sets atop the piano for safekeeping, only to find out the next day that these have been packed away, much to my consternation.
All my lego blocks would be back in the bucket, ready for building new things.
Just today, I got to be on the other end of the packing away. I was clearing my study (which also serves as the kids’ play room), when my daughter tearfully complained about my packing away the monster she modeled out of mega blocks. I told her she can just create another monster, and helped her re-do the creature out of the blocks. She was mad at me for a while, but was satisfied when she was able to do a bigger, better monster.
There’s a lesson to be learned here, I thought. And this quote from Batman Begins comes to mind: Why do we fall? … So we can learn to pick ourselves up.
Lego models weren’t meant to last forever. But Lego pieces probably are. Whatever you build on these blocks will probably crumble and fall as fast as you can say “Lego.” But one thing’s for sure–you learn basics of building. You learn to use your imagination to create something from scratch. And when your creation comes to naught, you learn to pick yourself up and rebuild from the pieces.
Life’s like that, anyway, isn’t it?
Like I always like to tell myself–you learn something from your kids every day.
Filed as Advice, Children, Parenting and tagged kids, Parenting, scolding, shouting with no replies
We all know that children lack the proper understanding on the things around them but surely, they know when a parent or sister will be angry at them. Giving bad looks and perhaps shouting at them would be easy ways to understand this but the fact remains, should we as parents shout at younger children?
Shouting is a form of showing power and also striking fear in the hearts of others. But for babies who are still in their developing stages, should shouting be included among the forces of instilling discipline?
It is true that if you fail to discipline your child while they are young may result into making them grow-up like brats. But disciplining them can be done in several ways. Some use the traditional disciplinarian practices like:
1. Being sent to a corner until he is told to move from there
2. Kneeling
3. Squatting
4. Belt or hangers showing
We all remember these things from our parents but that is the key point. We remember them and as babies before, who knows what happened or if we were punished in such a way!
Remember, that even if babies cannot understand it for now, it remains that it will have a baring on their overall development into maturity. Consider that thought before even pitching your voice. It can be a critical point against you.
Filed as Advice, Children, Parenting, Parenting News and tagged babies, cats, disease, dogs, health, heart, kids, Parenting, pets, snoring with no replies
It is only normal to hear that most kids would ask for a pet at some point in time of their age. It normally comes from culture or from seeing other kids who have their own dogs or cats. But while that is a need that can really be passed up, perhaps this new discovery as far as health and potential snoring problems in kids can convince parents to refrain from buying kids these traditional pets.
Snoring is something you don’t expect to hear from kids. But these days, advanced studies and technology has helped us identify and sum up causes of heart diseases or respiratory problems. Kids may not sleep with these animals but normally the exposure that they get can be entirely dangerous. Worst, it can lead to complications and put your child in danger if you are not careful.
“These factors may enhance inflammatory processes and thereby alter upper airway anatomy early in life, causing an increased susceptibility for adult snoring,” the study conjectured.
The harsh, occasionally nerve-wracking sounds associated with snoring are caused the vibrating of the soft palate.
Source
Filed as Advice, Children, Parenting and tagged big shoes, Children, idolize, kids, Parenting, responsibility, single parent with no replies
We may not necessarily like it but we see a lot of single parents in the form of unwed mothers or divorced couples who have to fill up the slack of taking care of their child alone. To most, it seems like a daunting task while for others, it is a challenge that only life can give.
Parenting is a joy if you use the proper approach. It is not a burden as some would say. Remember, you are part of brining that child to life and for sure the rewards will be heartfelt in the end. Your mission is to ensure that this child grows up to be responsible and sane, taking on life in the way that a mature adult should approach it.
Filling in Big Shoes
Ideally, taking the place of both a mother and a father is indeed big shoes to fill. But just like anything, hard work and sacrifices return large rewards. This is not in the form of money but in the form of security and lighter feeling. It is an expression only a parent can feel and once you get there, see the appreciation and tender loving care reciprocated unto you, you are sure to feel that it was worth every effort to bring up a child single-handedly.
Being a Role Model
Seeing that you are the only one who is bringing up your kid will surely be something that a child will appreciate. In fact, do not be surprised if they idolize you, follow your footsteps in making sure that they have a good life ahead. This is common and once that happens, tears of joy are sure to fall down your eyes.
As a whole, do not be surprised on how it is to be a single parent. Depending on your approach, it can be the best thing that happened to you. Always think positive.
Filed as Advice, Children, Parenting and tagged babies, communications, developmental stages, disciplining, education, kids, Parenting, psychological disorders with no replies
As a parent, you will notice that one important thing that babies and kids yearn for today is attention. They may not be able to communicate with you in the standard way of communications but they do let you know if they need or want something. At times you will know if they want to play, eat or simply want to be cuddled with. Children love the affection and the attention and parents are the best people to give that to them.
Disciplining Your Child
The hard part is trying to draw the line. Kids will always feel that anything that they do is right and proper. Scolding them or showing them that something like spitting in front of other people should be done in a manner to which they will understand. One thing that is for sure, do not shout at them. It is the poorest way of trying to educate them in their current state.
The Moderate Teaching Approach
We all have our own ways of educating our child. Some parents even go as far as practicing what their elders did when they were young. But this does not always follow. The right way to educate a child is to do it by stage and at a medium to which they would understand. Do not use force or lash out at them as a dictatorial style of parenting. They will grow up with fear and perhaps suffer from psychological disorders.
Lastly, be as open and patient as possible. Kids are in their developmental stages and they have yet to understand the real purpose of life. Treat them as precious kids that they should be. They are gifts that can really blossom into better people to which will speak highly of you as a parent.
