Some Things I've Learned About Parenting (Part Two)

In a previous post, I wrote about parenting babies.  Everything changes dramatically when children become mobile.  Then everything changes again when children are tall enough to reach everything.  The biggest changes come when they spend six hours or more out of your sight five days a week. Here are some tips I have for parents of toddlers and preschoolers (in no particular order):

• Always wear something with at least one pocket. 
• Keep your keys and your cell phone with you at all times.
• Don't lock all the screen doors in case you have to step outside and you get locked out.
• Buy medicine safes and use them.
• Buy lockable cabinets or storage for cleaning supplies and other poisons.
• You have to make your house and car as safe as possible. 
• You cannot possibly watch your children every single second no matter how hard you try.
• Your children will not always obey you even if it means life or death.
• Keep paper and crayons in your purse at all times.
• Keep water and healthy snacks available as you go from place to place.  Children have small stomachs and need to eat frequently.
• Keep hand sanitizer and wipes available wherever you go.
• Keep a change of clothes for all your children and yourself in your car even when your children are potty trained.
• Keep a pocket calendar or PDA or keep a schedule posted in the kitchen.  It is hard to remember everything you have to do and everywhere you have to go. 
• Try to get to sleep no more than 30 minutes to an hour after the children get to sleep. Even young parents need to sleep at least seven hours a night.  If you stay up late guess who is going to wake you up early?
• Avoid the temptation to buy the latest hot toy.  Your children will play with the box it came in longer than they will play with the newest money eater.
• Make lots of playdates with other families.  Your best friends are probably going to be the mothers of your children's best friends.  You will need friends.
• Your spouse (husband, wife, life partner, companion, whatever you call him or her) needs time with you and you need time with him or her.  You need to have fun as a couple.  Go out at least once a month if not more.
• Invest some time and money in finding good child care.  Trusted relatives are the best but sometimes they can't help. 
• Find the best pre-school you can afford and enroll your three year old.  They need to learn to socialize and you need to regain your sanity.
• Ask yourself what sport or activity does my child enjoy?  Enroll your children in at least one gym or sport or movement class.  I really like Gymboree, The Little Gym and the JCC.  The YMCA or YWCA are usually good too. 
• That said, don't overschedule your family.
• Get together with your extended family whenever you can. 
• Even though you love your children. you will find yourself hating them once in a while.  This usually happens when you haven't had enough sleep.  Of course, you don't tell your children you hate them.
• When you find yourself getting angry and hateful, get away from your children for a little while. If you don't have a sitter available, put on the television for a few minutes so they don't go anywhere.  Take yourself to the bathroom and read a little. Splash cold water on your face.  Call a friend.
• Praise your children often.
• Praise yourself often.
• Always tell your children you love them before they go to sleep and before they go away.
• Praying helps.

Essential Moments of Motherhood Part 1

Every night no matter how angry, always tell your children you love them. Also, read to them every night. GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU is a great book to start.