Always On The Run!

Always on the run!  Yes, that's what toddlers do best. They are just so full of energy and at some point will outrun you if you're not ready.  

My little boy is not the type to sit still most especially at the parks or playgrounds.  He loves to run around and just be all over the place.  There are time though that he would slow down and happily play in the sand are or be mucky dirty jumping on puddles.

It's a good thing to keep toddlers active even if means mommies getting tired running after them.  Having said this, I have retired on my heels and wedges.  I embraced the comfort of having to use comfort shoes for women, such as rubber shoes for me!  Even my sandals would be the sporty type to be able to  cradle me with comfort as I chase my little monkey on the loose. 

The Preschooler Age 26mos

Table manners becoming an issue?  You may be so used with your tot being so well behaved and sitting still while having family dinners and all of a sudden he or she suddenly becomes such a screamer of some sort.  Ok, the screaming and misbehaving isn't good but remember, kids behave in such a way to express themselves.

We have observed our little boy to misbehave a bit more and scream or do unlikely things while eating lately.  We kept observing and somehow figured out whenever me and my husband would talk about things our little boy can't relate with, he's likely to start doing things to cut us and focus on him.  Finally it made sense after I just read about kids that age acting in such manner on the table.

Since out little one started easting on his own, we give less attention on the table and start going back to our old routine which is probably old talks.  Our kid cannot relate to this thus making him quite furious and as a result would do something to distract and get out attention.  Understandable enough that the past 2yrs meal time would mean family time, out little boy being much more of a baby then and we made an effort to incorporated everything on the table for him.

I know it's hard when sometimes you and your husband just want to have some chat while eating, but not to forget the little one who's trying his best to keep up with mom and dad.  Conversations that he can't understand will definitely make him feel off and not included so reserved those delicate topics away from the table, instead show how much you enjoy the food and the family having a meal all together.

How Much Would A Mom Do?

This is not about spoiling, it is all about pure love.  A mother's pure love for her kid.  Seriously, how much would a mom do for her kid?  It is something that can really be measured, you'll only know how far you'd go when the time calls for it.

I was so inspired with a story from Yahoo which I read tonight, it's about a mom whose son was taken and what it took for her to get him back.  She tried to shed all the money she had but it wasn't enough to get her son back to her.  Knowing that something has to be done, this mother put the ball on her hand and played the game.

How much do I love my boy and how far would I go for him?  I honestly don't know the answer in terms or numbers, I just know I would do everything for him.  Here's the story that I just read, Courageous Mom Rescues Abducted Son in Egypt check it out yourself and tell me how you feel about it. 

Artsy Toddlers

 

Letting our kids play freely and introducing them to artistic activities can be really good for them.   They can get so messy at times but that's part of the fun. You can't expect a kid to be so clean and coordinated on such an early age.  Exploring colors can be a fun way to teach different colors as well.  It's so much fun watching them do some arts and crafts, it's the same fun they feel while doing their stuff.

Family Togetherness

Keeping a family tradition is important.  It can play a bi role in your child's well-being.  Somehow this can reflect family togetherness to your growing child.  Family traditions need not be grand nor expensive.  Even the simplest things can mean more to your kid. 

Of course occasions like Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas and such are normal traditions families observe.  Simple traditions like praying together at night before going to sleep and putting the baby all together in bed is something meaningful.  Eating family meals together is another simple thing a family must try to observe.  This gives more value of togetherness and a broader sense of family is felt in this kind of activity. 

Being creative is one key in making family traditions.  Say for instance, doing something every season as a family which you'll observe to do every year.  Go to the mountains and have fun in the snow during Winter.  Spend some good time planting in the garden during Spring.  Go to the carnivals and beach on hot Summer months.  Jump on leaves or go on a hike during Fall.  These don't require much effort, just the time to do it all together.

Kids

Guest post written by Joseph Finch

I can't believe that it is already the end of February! This year is flying by. We will be moving at the end of this school year, and that is only three months away. I have already started getting things ready for the move though. I have been cleaning and decluttering so much around the house. The last thing I want to do is to pack and move a whole bunch of worthless junk. I am cleaning and just donating or throwing away anything that we haven't used in the last year. It feels so good to get rid of junk that we don't need or use. I should have done this years ago! I am also beginning to look into getting our utilities set up for the next house. I need to make sure that we have everything set up for move in day. I've been looking into Cable TV Companies, because I know we will need something to occupy the kids with while we are unpacking! I will need to be able to just turn the TV on and let them watch a couple shows!

Mom at Home

It’s so nice being able to wake up in the morning and get ready knowing I don’t have to rush into any office. I don’t have to break my neck to impress some boss or get a report in – all I have to do is do the best I can when it comes to raising my children. I love the kids so much and it’s so important to me that they get as much one on one time with me as possible, and I know they appreciate it too. I can’t believe I get to spend my days looking at things like Hughes Net Nash rates and back to school clothes sales rather than spreadsheets of sales figures and whatnot – it’s such a more pleasant way to live my life. I loved my job, I really did, but being able to stay at home is so much more rewarding than I ever thought it could be. I wouldn’t give this up for anything and that’s the honest truth about being a stay at home mom!

Guest post written by Derick Burks

Mommy Time

Having intimate mommy time strengthens the bond of mommy and baby. Baby gets more connected with mommy making communication between them easier. They get to develop special fun activities which stimulates baby's skills. Of course daddy time is equally important though during the infancy stage babies tend to seek for the motherly care more. Babies will only be babies for a short period of time, you'll never notice how fast time will fly only for you to realize they all have grown. Enjoy the most time with your babies, they will grow up remembering such precious times you've shared.

Kids Need To Be Free

I firmly believe that kids need to be free, free to move and explore. Given the right freedom kids will learn from such experiences and know their inner self. Of course us parents should always be on the watch to correct them and protect them but not to hinder them from doing things that can actually contribute to their development.

Stages of Parenthood

After 25 years of high school graduation, you’re in to a reunion, try looking at pictures. Do you not wonder why your high school teachers look only a little older than you or sometimes even younger? It is not only because of the many wonders of cosmetics and doctors who seem to be the progenitors of the font of Venus – the stages of parenthood has something to do with it.

The stages of parenthood are intertwined with several aspects of man’s life: economic, emotional, physical and even spiritual. The first stage usually on the first 6 years is the most taxing, physically dilapidating, mind-draining and mind-boggling because it is the stage where the couple is preparing for a comfortable life, adjusting to the married life especially with the so many attitudes and behaviours once hidden during the courtship period.

The second stage, usually on the 7^th to the 15^th year may be a little problematic in all aspects: having more expenses for the schooling of the kids, dealing with adolescents, competing with work schedules and schedules of kids, a rat-race career because it is at this stage when you have to really establish your roots in your work for the sake of the kids and getting down to your adulthood and finally retirement, being amidst all the temptations because your circle of friends has definitely gone wider so there are more temptations around – so family troubles start to crop up.

Finally, kids graduated, some have worked, others got married, you are now more relax and confident that you have given back to your parents what they have done to you. Economically, you are more secured; emotionally you have a feeling of achievement and a feeling of fulfilment; physically, you have time to enjoy outdoor activities, the gym and others not nursing and running after kids and going to and fro the school to fetch them especially during inclement weather; and spiritually – your mind is vent more to the church activities.

How can one not look young and still fresh after 25 years from the time kids were adolescents when these mentors have already surpassed the tests of time, the challenges of the future, the economic constraints, the agonies of uncertainties and the tiresome labours of motherhood and fatherhood?

Just wait for the time when the same look sheens on you – but be sure you have done your great homework from the Lord.

~ICS~

Baked Rice Crackers

What do you give your baby for snack? Have you tried some Japanese Rice Crackers? I personally love these crunchy crackers and I am not surprised that my little boy loves it too. As much as possible we try to avoid giving salty and sweet foods to baby so that he won't be inclined to tasty foods right away.

Sometimes parents would think their kids are way too hard to feed so they have to give just anything they want and those tasty and savory treats. We have to be more careful feeding our kids because they will end up liking those foods and disliking other healthier options. It's still best if we can get our kids to eat fruits and vegetables. These foods will ensure a healthier life ahead of them.

A New Home A New Life

They say home is where the heart is and we firmly believe that's true. No matter how big or small your home is and whether it's old or new, wherever the whole family is then that place becomes not just an ordinary house but a home.

Right now we're just living in an apartment but we're hoping to find a new home for our growing baby. The place where we live now is good enough but having a place of our own can help so much in baby's developments too. A small apartment can put much restrictions on baby's growth because he can't do so much other things with a limited space. A new home can give us a new life, a life more free and more room to grow.

It will be our first time buying a house and we're hoping that our good credit can score us to a better home mortgage offer. This can help a lot in the financial aspect which will give us the power to finally acquire a property that we've always wanted to have.

Insight on Motherhood

It's never easy to be a mother it takes a toll of responsibilities, nurturing love, proper care and discipline to bear and raise your children. Sad to say not every woman succeeds in this "career" while others naturally embrace the pains and joys of motherhood.