Parenting advice is tricky, but since you asked….I am more than happy to share with you what I’ve learned thus far.
To those about to become a parent:
Sleep now. Because you will never know sleep like you know it at this very moment. Children have this weird way about them. They actually love life, and they look forward to waking up every morning. And so they like to do their best to beat the sun. And then they feel that they should drag you along with them. This starts immediately after birth and doesn’t seem to have an end in sight, so sleep now.
To those with a newborn:
It will get better. A full nights sleep does exist…when they move out.
Breathe. Take in the moment. Inhale that sweet scent. Savor the loveliness of a non moving, non opinionated infant. Cherish it. Because time moves quickly, and they will soon turn into toddlers….and you could have missed the innocence.
To those with a toddler:
Xanax. Lexapro. Prozac. Seriously, just take whatever they offer you. You. Will. Need. It. Then add in God and lots and lots of prayer. You. Will. Need. That too!
To those with a Preschooler:
Grab a notebook. A recorder. A journal. And then write down the hilariousness that comes out of their mouths. You will never want to forget the beginning of their own well contemplated thoughts. Hug them. Teach them. Make the hard moments a chance to learn. They are about to leave you, and what you give them now, they will bring into the world…
Other bits & pieces:
This awful stage you’re in that you feel like will never end? I promise you, it will. Just when you think it can get no worse and you are about to lose it, a new annoying thing will take it’s place. God seems to be clever like that.
When you’re eating something yummy and you don’t want to share, tell your child it’s your healthy food and they wouldn’t like it. It works, and now I never have to share my special treats.
Rather than telling your child ‘no’ or ‘no-no,’ say ‘no thank you.’ You will adore it when it’s repeated back to you one day.
Don’t put up with tattling. Send them to a place where they sit facing each other and have them work it out themselves. My rule is, they have to stay put until the problem is solved and a hug has ended the war. This teaches them to 1) think twice about tattling, and 2) learn problem solving skills with friends. Most importantly, it allows you to get back to your tv show, book, or other extracurricular activity you do while ignoring tattling children.
Advice that matters most:
We as parents are all learning. We are all (most) doing the best we can. We are all giving and loving and parenting with what we believe is right for us and our home. We are all in this together. So we should all have grace, extend grace…recieve grace. What is right for one, may not be right for another.
If you are loving the guts out of your children, then what other advice really matters?
You’re already doing what matters most.
(If you can’t tell, my kids have been exceptionally sweet as of late, hence the optimistic outlook on parenting in this weeks posts. But stay tuned…things have been known to change quickly. My xanax is never far.)
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© 2009 “Le Musings of Moi”
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