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Dealing with Monster In-Laws

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grandma panties comic stripClichés and jokes about in-laws abound for a good reason. And whether it’s your side of the family or your spouse’s side that’s making life a little (or a lot) harder, you still need to learn to deal with the matter in a positive manner if you want to set a good example with your kids. Granted that there’s no foolproof formula for dealing with monster in-laws, learning some coping mechanisms will definitely make your life easier and contribute to a happier marriage.

One of the most important steps you need to take is to let go of the negativity. This is easier said than done, but if you are to fix your relationship with your in-laws you have to let go of your negative attitude towards them. Of course, it’s perfectly natural to feel negative emotions when they do something irritating, but you need to be able to control your response so that you can understand the root of the problem and so move forward in a more productive manner. Kids pick up on emotions really well and will develop a negative attitude towards your in-laws if you don’t watch yourself. Even worse, they might end up unable to handle stress and cope with difficult people and issues in a more positive way as they grow.

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Originally posted on June 15, 2013 @ 3:24 am

Make Grocery Shopping a Happy Experience

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Do you bring your kids when you go shopping at the grocery store? Do you find it a challenge every time?

Many parents would agree that it can be tough to shop with the small kids in tow. But as always, there are solutions to the problem.

grocery-shopping with kids

Regardless of the number of child you have, it’s important that you involve them in planning your meals. This way, the kids look forward to buying the ingredients instead of just picking up whatever they like at the supermarket.

If you have only one kid, grocery shopping can be a great bonding moment. If you have two small ones, it’s a good idea to bring along your spouse. This way, each of you has a partner and buying your needs will be easier and faster. Dividing your list is the right way to do it. [Read more…] about Make Grocery Shopping a Happy Experience

Originally posted on March 6, 2013 @ 11:38 am

Make Mom Feel Extra Special on Mother’s Day

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Mother’s Day is coming up once again and it’s time to think about ways to make moms extra special. Parents who lead a busy lifestyle can spend this day with their family to honor the mother or together with their own moms and dads, if they’re still around.

There are plenty of ideas you can choose from but it would be best if you get more creative this time and come up with your own unique treat.

Give Flowers

mother-s-day-celebration-in-family

Without a doubt, flowers are top of mind for many of you. Sometimes, it would be easy to simply order for a bouquet or box of your mom’s favorite flowers. But how about creating your own arrangement as a special surprise? You can even encourage your kids to help you or they may also create their own for grandma.
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Originally posted on March 5, 2013 @ 7:53 am

Tips for Reading Bedtime Stories to Your Kid

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One common challenge faced by parents is how to put their kid to sleep. This can be a problem especially if you have a very energetic and active child.

But don’t despair because there’s always a solution to every problem and reading a bedtime story is one of them. Research has shown that dads who read bedtime stories help their child do well in school.

Reading stories at bedtime helps in developing a child’s brain, language and emotional responses. It lets them learn literacy skills in a fun way. It’s also an opportunity for them to learn about stories of people, animals and other things even if they’re just fairy tales. Emotionally, it helps to calm them down before they go to sleep after an active day.

Doing this action is a sign of good parenting. It is, therefore, a parent’s responsibility to find time to read a book every night. Consider this time as a bonding moment as well between you and your child and one that will always be carved in the mind of your kid.

An ideal way to start your storytelling session is to create a relaxing and quiet atmosphere in the bedroom. Turn off the TV, computer or radio and then encourage your child to listen closely while you’re sharing the story.

Avoid reading in a monotonous manner. Dramatize the story by using different voices depending on the characters involved.

If you have a toddler who’s still learning how to talk, you can repeat the story several times. This will help improve his memory and develop his language skills.

Remember that repetition is key to memory retention and it will allow the child to be familiar with words. So take the time to read a bedtime story to your child regularly and do it with enthusiasm.

Originally posted on October 3, 2012 @ 11:46 pm

How Conversations can Benefit Kids

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The first skill that a child learns at home is talking or his language skills. This is the basic step that most, if not all, parents take when their baby reaches the toddler stage.

A kid develops his language skills properly if the parents talk to him or her in a straight manner. Baby talk is a no-no.

Research has shown that conversing with a child is more powerful than reading bedtime stories in terms of language development. According to health experts in the U.S., engaging kids in a conversation is six times more effective than reading books to them. While these pediatricians do recommend regularly reading fairy tales and bedtime stories as a way to let kids learn to talk and read, they stress that one-on-one conversation between a parent and his child has a greater impact.
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Originally posted on October 11, 2012 @ 7:00 am

Ways to Support Kids in their Music Lessons

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Now that summer is here, many parents are again thinking of what activities to provide their small kids. Some are thinking about sports while the others would like their children to be involved in music lessons.

Parents who prefer music lessons are normally those who also have an interest in music or who, as a kid, were also music-oriented. So how can you determine then if your son or daughter likes music?

The first step is to observe your child. A parent should know if his kid likes music when he or she watches a music video attentively or stops, listen and makes actions whenever he or she hears music. For the older kids, they may hum or sing along with a tune that they’ve been hearing over and over again. Or you may just be surprised to hear your kid tell you “I want to learn to play the piano or the guitar, Mom!”
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Originally posted on June 10, 2012 @ 7:22 am

Are You a “Grown Up” Parent?

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How many times have you heard or uttered the phrase “Grow up?” I suppose that you can not count. This phrase is often used in a wide variety of contexts. Yet what does grow up really mean? What does it mean to be grown up? If you are of legal age and you have children, does that necessarily mean that you are all grown up?

Well, if you were to ask author John Cheetham, parents are not necessarily “grown up.” This author from Melbourne has a new book called “Grow Up! How to raise an adult by being one yourself” and in it, he challenges parents to quit behaving like overgrown children and start acting their age. I don’t have a copy of the book as of yet but the information presented in News.com.au has gotten my interest. Here’s a sampling:

He says parents should stop drinking, smoking, swearing and losing their temper – particularly when driving. He thinks parents are too over-emotional, too over-protective and over-react to their teens’ faults. “The most important thing is to remember the power of example,” Dr Cheetham said. “Parents need to be in tune with their emotions – it’s not what you say, it’s what you do. And this means not having an episode of road rage on the way to taking your son to get his learners.”

If you think about it, this is an age old principle. Walk the talk and so on. I suppose, though, that in this day and age of indulgence, we can always use a reminder like this book. Now here is my question: Are you a grown up parent?

Originally posted on August 30, 2011 @ 12:34 am

The Art of Listening

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listening

Are you a good listener? I actually find it amusing that I got the idea for this post from one of those online quizzes in a social networking site. I like taking those quizzes when I am passing away time. They may not be as accurate as they can be but they are fun and sometimes, provides valuable insight – like this one. As I was reading my results (I am supposedly a good listener although I don’t always come across as one), I could not help by relate the topic to being a parent.

As Munashe shares in his blog, the art of listening is perhaps one of the most important – if not THE most important – things that a parent should develop. What does the art of listening entail?

I believe that it is more than sitting there and hearing the things that your child has to say. It is not a passive activity but an interactive one. You actively listen by understanding what your child is saying and contributing something to the conversation. More so, listening entails understanding that maybe, at times, your child just wants to be heard and does not really need to be told what to do.

I think that is one problem that arises when children share things with their parents – we sometimes automatically think that we need to provide a solution to whatever they are presenting. Have you ever thought that maybe your child just wants to rant and let off steam and be heard? I sure know that I feel that way a lot of times.

So do you take the time out to really listen to your child? How do you listen?

Originally posted on July 27, 2011 @ 2:14 pm

Uncontrolled Emotions – Health Risks

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depresseart1Depression, anger, lack of social skills and many more, these are classical signs of either underlying sickness or too much stress. Nope, you’re not crazy but might need help, who needs psychologists who charge tons of money. Get help from people like you who may have overcome these challenges themselves and have ample experience to help you through. From seasoned professionals who are well versed in such cases or merely people who want to help and have dealt with people like you, what’s important is to accept that something is wrong and that help is needed.
Acceptance is one of the most difficult things to do, for no one, and we mean no one wants to admit it outright they have issues. Pent up anger can get out of hand and easily turn violent without therapy and counseling. Have a child who seems out of the game most of the time, get help quick so you can get help on tips how you can help them develop into more lively kids.
Getting help is the first step, recovery is the ultimate goal which we all strive to attain. Learn how people overcome fear, anxiety and dread of things we take fore granted. Learn how your fears can be turned into positive approaches to the most common problems we face. The current economic slump isn’t helping either, lost your job, need help or simply want a sympathetic ear to ease away the pain. Depression is so hard to battle when you’re alone. You sacrifice your health, family and life for something that can be addresses with simple yet effective conversations. Get help, get on your way to a healthier you, inside and out!

Originally posted on July 20, 2011 @ 9:51 am