Queen among men: mother raising children
I never thought in a million years I would have two kids. Sure, he wanted children, but he specifically wanted a girl and a boy. So having to change my mindset after the second level two sonogram indicated that I was having another child was quite difficult for me.
Now that they’re here, life as I knew it will never be the same again. Instead of happy hour after work, and all Saturday shopping with my friends, I find that I spend most of my time at sporting events. Sure, I’m married, but that’s Part 2 of my ezine (stay tuned). I never have time for myself, I gained weight and generally felt like life had given me a bad pass. I found myself yelling at my children and many times it was not fun to be around. Then it hit me, like the Tonka Truck my son ran into my foot, enough is enough! I would no longer feel that life with children is challenging and unmanageable, I will take control and make the rest of their childhood the most amazing experience that I can.
Therefore, I developed a list of the 5 best strategies for impact: keys to raising children
Impact Strategy 5: Love it right where it is. Although he is silly at the moment and reminds you of your obnoxious younger brother, enjoy the innocence of his youth. He’ll be doing teenage stuff before you know it.
Impact strategy 4: He loves me, he loves me not. Boys tend to be closer to their mother when they are young. By pre-adolescence (9-13) they form a bond with their dad or other men in their life that seems unbreakable. Don’t be afraid, they always come back to mom. When the camera is on MVP, who do they greet too… Mom!
Impact Strategy 3: Advocate for your child. You have to forever advocate for your child. The education system tends to be less child friendly in many cases, therefore the educational needs of our children are not being met. Attend your PTA meetings, meet your child’s teacher, and provide a variety of academic enrichment experiences for your child. The dropout rate is alarming in many communities, make sure your child is not just another statistic.
Impact Strategy 2: Teach her a sense of self worth. As women, we know that when we look good, we feel good. The same is true for children. Although this is a hard lesson for my children who would rather leave the house every morning for school without full grooming. It has to be a boy thing not to wash your face or brush your teeth without being told (every day). When my kids wear classic clothes, they tend not to be so clunky. They don’t automatically seek out rain puddles right away, usually feeling clean for at least 45 minutes.
Another sense of self-worth is surrounding children with their extended families. My children often love the attention they get from the great aunts and uncles in the family. They love hearing funny childhood stories about their dad and me, while looking back and forth at the many family photos. The sense of community and family is often lacking in our society. Continue to enrich the lives of your children by getting involved with immediate and extended family members.
Impact Strategy 1: Accept your Son’s active level. Children tend to be active and everywhere all the time. It seems that they learn best by doing an activity, an experiment, or some kind of simulation. Create an environment where children of all ages and stages can be active, mobile, and free to be creative. Give them how verse centered fiction books. They need kid-friendly instruction to keep them motivated and eager to try something new.
Finally, remember that children are a joy. They are the next generation of warriors who must be properly trained now to fight the incredible fight ahead. We cannot pamper them, we can protect them from harmful influences, but we can allow them experiences so that they learn to make good decisions. Yes, they will make bad decisions along the way, but be there to love them through those bad decisions and teach them how to be receptive to constructive advice and direction.
