Insparenting

For most women, after pregnancy and eventful delivery process, the next thing we need to consider is how the easiest way to lose weight. Some women get lucky that they can lose weight naturally and get back to their old shape only months after giving birth. However, some other are not that lucky. We need to try zillions ways of losing weight, from taking diet pills, having hard exercises, to the more sophisticated treatment, like acupuncture, liposuction, and so on.

Of course, all above attempt are okay. However, we need to remember that the most important consideration is always our babies. The first thing that we need to consider is whether those struggling for losing weight will not have negative impact to our babies. If the weight loss procedures are safe for the babies, then we can have a go. After all, it is about our self esteem we are talking about here.

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.”

That’s just not true. Name-calling hurts — especially when the person doing it is a parent, a teacher, or a coach. Yelling and screaming might have been the way you were brought up and you might think it worked for you, so why wouldn’t it work for your kids? But did it? Remember how it made you feel. You probably felt belittled, devalued, and insignificant. You certainly don’t want your own children to feel that way.

What are the signs that a child is suffering from verbal abuse?  They may have a very negative self-image.  They may commit acts that are self-destructive, such as cutting, hitting or scratching themselves, as well as other reckless and dangerous activities. They may exhibit physical aggression, be delinquent in school, or display interpersonal problems.  They may hit other children, frequently fight with classmates at school, or be cruel to animals.  They may also exhibit delays in their social, physical, academic or emotional development.

It’s normal for most parents at one time or another to feel frustrated and angry with their children.  They may lash out verbally in these instances and say things they later regret.  It’s when these instances become more and more frequent that there is cause for concern.  Remember to give yourself a time out if you feel an outburst coming on.  Try to refrain from saying mean, sarcastic or belittling things to your child.  Remember, your child learns what he lives.  Don’t be a bad example and teach him bad behavior early on.

Remember that your child is a precious gift and should be treated with love, kindness, respect and tenderness.  If you exhibit these to your child on a daily basis, they will learn what they live and grow to do the same as adults.

Toddlers can be fussy eaters who refuse to try a new food at least half of the time. Approximately half of all toddlers fit this description, so it is no wonder that food issues are a source of stress for parents.

Establishing healthy eating patterns is important to avoid problems such as obesity and eating disorders later in life. Try to make foods fun.  Colorful foods like carrot sticks, raisins, apples, grapes, cheese sticks and crackers can all be fun and healthy choices for your growing toddler.  Explain to them that eating good food is important so they’ll grow big and strong, and how it will help them run faster and play longer.

Children learn behaviors from their parents. If you restrict yourself to a narrow range of foods, your child will take notice and mimic your caution. Don’t limit your child’s food variety to only those foods you prefer. It may be that your child’s tastes are different to yours, and perhaps you are simply serving them foods they don’t happen to like.  Try to set a good example and try a variety of foods in front of your child.  It could motivate them to do the same.

If your child seems healthy and energetic, then they are eating enough. If you are still concerned, keep an eye on how much food they actually eat over the day. Children tend to graze constantly, rather than restrict their eating to three meals per day like adults. You may be surprised how those little handfuls and snacks add up. For further reassurance, check your child’s growth and weight charts, or check with your child’s pediatrician.

Try not to worry, and remember, that unless a child is ill, they will eat.   Children are very good at judging their hunger and fullness signals. Try to stay relaxed about mealtime and offer your child a wide variety of foods, and most importantly, remember to set a good example by trying a wide variety of foods yourself.  You may discover you and your toddler share a new found favorite food!

Reading is food for thought and soul. That is why instead of just going around during this summer holiday; we might as well spend the holiday reading some great books. Who knows that we might find some things that can be done or read by the whole family?

Now, what are the enjoyable books this summer? For mothers, there are some great recipe books, fiction, or romance novels. For fathers, they might enjoy those business or biography books or the lighter stuff like photography books or other hobby books. As for the kids, any Disney books or even Stephenie Meyer’s books are great and can feed their creative fantasy.

Since I and my family love books, we can always find some enjoyable reads to fill our days. It’s a great way to spend holiday as well as saves lots of money, right?

When we watch TV, there are so many programs in several channels that are rubbish and not suitable for the children; those programs are full of violence, horror, adult content, and much more that are played during family-friendly time (i.e. before 9pm). Don’t you often feel worried that your children will unintentionally watch some of those TV programs that are not suitable for them?

Actually, if we use DirectTV, we can have a solution for that. They offer a product called DirecTV Family Package with only 45 channels included. This package offer parental controls as well as 45 channels of family programming suitable for all ages, including local channels. This package is also the cheapest one, compared to the other packages, so that it is really a bargain for us with kids.

Of course, if you or your husband likes sport and movies, this Direct TV has several other interesting packages that we can choose from. As long as we always control our children’s TV watching time, we can have more freedom in choosing our TV packages.

Anyway, although satellite TV provide different kind of packages which for some people are considered cheaper than the usual cable TV, our parental controls is still more important than what TV package with its channels and programs we use at home. Control and supervision is still the key.

Although affording the cost of living for the kids is a major responsibility of the parents, there is one other responsibility which is very important which the parents have to take. This responsibility is to keep the kids close to them. In today’s world there is a lot of exposure for the kids. The children of today know a lot more than what the previous generation knew. They have access to almost every type of information and can get into really dirty situations if the parents do not keep an eye on them. In this world which is full of rotten facts, it is difficult to save your kids from all the wrongdoings. It is difficult for the parents today to keep their kids on the right track.

There are many ways the parents can remain close to their kids. It basically depends on the age of your kid. The youngsters of pre-nursery age groups are generally very honest to their parents and they share every thing with them. As they grow up they get involved with their friends and start to change. At this stage it is the parents’ responsibility to keep an eye on them without disturbing them. The teenagers are to be treated with love, and they have to be given some freedom. If you keep lots of restraints on the teenagers they are bound to react aggressively. Be their friend. Make them trust you. In this way they will understand that what they are seeing in the world today, their parents have seen in their youth. If this concept is digested by the kids, they will remain as honest to their parents as they were when they were toddlers.

Treat your children according to their age groups. If they are in the growing age they will be having lots of questions. Answer their questions. Let them talk to you. This will help to create a wonderful relationship which can be considered as a true bond between the parents and the children.