I get it! You never want your child to be “labeled” special needs, you don’t ever want anything to be wrong with your child and you CERTAINLY wish it was something you could sweep under the rug…right?
I remember as a kid planting myself in front of the television and watching my favorite shows…Murder She Wrote was at the top of my “Favorites” list. I’m not sure if my parents warned me against too much television or if they were oblivious…but I have several pictures of me as a child propped in front of the tv smiling at the camera. Don’t get me wrong, I am not faulting my parents…they always had my best intention in mind, but I do feel they were young and naive to the effects of too much tv on my development.
So Tawny, our youngest, turns one in just a couple of weeks and for some reason, I was having a hard time remembering how to wean her from the bottle (or breastfeeding if you are doing that). You would think I would remember having done this twice before but honestly I couldn’t recall. I sat down and did some research and thought I would share it with all of you as well.
•Let’s talk oral health•
When I took my oldest daughter to the dentist for the first time (she was a year old), I was surprised when her dentist asked me if I brush her teeth after each meal. “No,” I quickly answered. “I brush them in the morning and again in the evening before bedtime.” The first time they asked I was sure they were trying to see if I would be “honest” with my response…almost like they were tricking me with their question. Then I quickly realized they were not. Humph! Mom fail #10,000! Where in the “Kid Manual” does it say that they need to brush their teeth 4-5 times a day???
Hey listen, I have 3 young kids and not a ton of time, so when I can find an easier way of doing something or a way of doing something that makes life less complicated with a 6.5 year old, a 4 year old and a 10.5 month old, I am ALL for it. I also like sharing these hacks with anyone and everyone to make their mommy and daddy life easier. I have 5 hacks every mom and dad should know about.
I’m pretty confident to say that if you are a parent, you have had your child publicly melt down. In fact, I specifically remember the day and time when our middle child lay on the floor of Meijer Grocery Store- sprawled out, arms and legs stiff as a board, screaming like a banshee while I stand there gazing down and at a COMPLETE LOSS.
Life is BUSY…I get it because I am one of those moms that tries to squeeze in something fun, entertaining or educational any free second of the day. In fact, if it weren’t for my 10 month old, we would be on the go all day long. So when I talk to you about routine and schedules, I’m taking my own advice as well…because we all know what’s best for our kids (for the most part) but actually doing it is another story.
It can be so hard to make sure you are pouring into each child’s attention tank as parents. Oftentimes I find myself spending more time with one or the other or even the opposite of that, not giving either child the one-on-one time they crave. So how do you make sure you are covering your bases and making everyone feel loved like they deserve from their parents?
Routine…ahhhh…what every kid thrives on. In fact, when we are out of routine, my life feels like utter chaos and I end up a grumpy mess. Some families find comfort when school starts because life has a flow again where over the summer it was more of a stagnant pond (or better yet, crazy hurricane). It is true, kids do better all around when there is some sort of routine to follow. Think about it, the first week of school is all about learning the classroom routine and procedures on how to do things. Why do teachers take the time to do that? It’s because they are setting their year up for success. When kids know what to expect and how to navigate their day, there tends to be less behavioral issues, less chaos in the classroom and less overall misuse of time.
Although we are potty trained in our household with two of our three girls, I feel like it is one of those topics every mommy and daddy struggles with. Potty training either goes SLOWLY or your child just “gets it” and is trained in no time. Having trained two little ones (one with ease and one that took some time), I feel I have some tips and tricks that can ease the troubles when learning to go to the restroom at the right time and place.